Steve Bucknor breaks silence on Sachin’s dismissal after 22 years, says ‘I have accepted that…’

More than 22 years after one of cricket’s most infamous umpiring decisions, former West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor has admitted his mistake in giving out LBW to Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003–04 Brisbane Test against Australia. In a recent interview with the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association, the 79-year-old umpire—who officiated in more than 120 Tests and multiple World Cups—spoke about this burden: “Giving Sachin Tendulkar out leg before… knowing it was a mistake, but to this day, every day, people talk about it… In life, mistakes happen. I’ve accepted that it was a mistake, and life Keeps going.”

The flashpoint at The Gabba came when Tendulkar (on 3) shouldered a Jason Gillespie delivery that was pitching outside off; The ball hit high on the pads, prompting strong appeals from Gillespie and Adam Gilchrist. Buckner quickly raised his finger, dismissing Tendulkar for a duck on three balls. Replays showed the ball passing the stumps comfortably, leading to severe criticism—Tony Greig called it “horrible” on air.

This decision was not an isolated one; Buckner also faced scrutiny for other decisions against Tendulkar, including a caught-behind (replays showed no contact) off Abdul Razzaq in Kolkata in 2005. Tendulkar later joked to a fan: “When I’m batting, I make him wear boxing gloves so he can’t lift his fingers.”

Buckner’s frank statement was a long-awaited analysis by Indian fans about the “horror decisions” that cut short some of Tendulkar’s great innings in the pre-DRS era. It shows the human aspect of umpiring under extreme pressure.