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“I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008”. Steve Bucknor, in speaking about his career, has said that he made “two mistakes” during the controversial Australia-India Sydney Test in 2008, which made headlines for the “monkeygate” spat between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh and the contentious umpiring decisions.

In an interview with Mid-Day, Bucknor said: “I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008. Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on day five, might have cost India the game. But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me.”

India had reduced the hosts to 134 for 6 on the first day before an unbeaten 162 from Symonds and half-centuries from Brad Hogg and Brett Lee propelled Australia to a commanding 463. The first decision Bucknor refers to was when Symonds, on 30, edged a delivery from Ishant Sharma to MS Dhoni but Bucknor remained unmoved. Replays later showed Snicko had picked up the edge but there was no DRS at the time.

The other decision Bucknor recalls probably refers to Rahul Dravid’s dismissal on the last day when India were set 333 to chase from a possible 72 overs. In the 34th over of the chase, with India fighting for a draw on 115 for 3, Bucknor ruled Dravid caught behind. Dravid’s bat was tucked behind his pad, and replays confirmed the ball had flicked Dravid’s front knee roll on the way. Michael Clarke later picked up the last three India wickets in five balls with about six minutes to spare, and Australia won the match and took a 2-0 series lead.

“You need to know why mistakes are made,” Bucknor said. “You don’t want to make similar mistakes again. I am not giving excuses but there are times when the wind is blowing down the pitch and the sound travels with the wind. The commentators hear the nick from the stump mic but the umpires may not be sure. These are things spectators won’t know.”

The episode became a blot on Bucknor’s otherwise celebrated record, as he was removed by the ICC from officiating in the third Australia-India Test in Perth.

Looking back at happier times from his career, Bucknor recalled two World Cups, starting with 1992 when he had officiated only in a handful international matches but got to stand in the final. He would go on to officiate in four more consecutive finals until the 2007 edition.

“I stood in only four Tests and three ODIs before that [1992 World Cup],” Bucknor recalled. “And I was the only umpire from the Caribbean at that World Cup. So I didn’t know if I was good enough to be there. During the tournament, I was told I was doing very well. The captains had good things to say. My aim was to be among the six umpires for the semi-finals. I would have been happy to even be a reserve umpire. I stood in the New Zealand versus Pakistan semi-final in Auckland. And after the match I was told, ‘Bucknor, you’re doing the final.’

“I remember in 1996, West Indies versus Australia in the semi-final. I was in Delhi and I left my hotel room when Australia were 15 for 4. I went down to the lobby and told them to book my tickets to Jamaica. I then packed my bags and got ready to leave the next morning. That night, West Indies lost. I was sad because I wanted West Indies in the final. But personally, I was happy. Once the game was over, I was told, ‘Bucknor, first flight out to Pakistan for the final.'”

The former umpire also explained his signature style of taking a long pause before declaring a batsman out. “I created replays in my mind,” he said. “Did the ball pitch outside leg? Was it high? Is it missing off? These are the questions I asked myself. I was criticised in my own country when I started out. One commentator said that if there is an appeal in the last over of the day, Bucknor’s finger will go up the next morning.”

Bucknor retired in 2009 after officiating in 128 Tests and 181 ODIs; his Test record of umpiring in most matches was broken by Aleem Dar in December 2019.

Article courtesy – espncricinfo.com

12 years after that India vs Australia Test match in Sydney, which Australia won in dramatic fashion in the dying hours of Day 5, umpire Steve Bucknor agreed that his two mistakes might have cost India dearly.

The India vs Australia Test match at Sydney in 2008 would perhaps go down as one of the most controversial Test matches between the two countries. Cricket took backstage with the Test match revolving around the controversial umpiring decisions by Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson and the ‘monkeygate’ scandal between India’s Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s Andrew Symonds.

12 years after that Test match, which Australia won in dramatic fashion in the dying hours of Day 5, umpire Steve Bucknor agreed that his two mistakes might have cost India the Sydney Test.

“I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008,” Bucknor told Midday.

“Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on Day Five, might have cost India the game. But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me,” Bucknor added.

The West Indian umpire was referring to his decision on Day 1 of the Test match that allowed Andrew Symonds a life. Australia were tottering at 135 for six when Symonds and Brad Hogg had just started to build a partnership.

India’s Ishant Sharma found the inside edge of Symond’s bat when the all-rounder was batting at 30 but Bucknor ruled it as not out.

Symonds, later on, survived another stumping appeal which could have gone either way. He rode his luck to slam 160 as Australia posted 463. In reply, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman hit centuries as India took a 69-run lead.

Australia set India 333-run target on Day 5 with only 72 overs of play remaining. India were recovering from a poor start with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly stitching a good partnership before the former was given out caught for 38 in the 34th over off Andrew Symonds’ bowling by Steve Bucknor. Replays showed there was no bat involved, the ball had actually gone off Dravid’s pads. This Bucknor referred as his ‘second mistake’ which he believed might have ‘cost India the Test match’.

Ganguly too fell to a controversial umpiring decision but MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble had managed to take India deep. After Dhoni’s dismissal, India’s tail could not wag as Michael Clarke took three wickets in one over to seal a 122-run win.

“You need to know why mistakes are made. You don’t want to make similar mistakes again. I am not giving excuses but there are times when the wind is blowing down the pitch and the sound travels with the wind. The commentators hear the nick from the stump mic but the umpires may not be sure. These are things spectators won’t know,” Bucknor added.

Article Courtesy – The Hindustan Times

England has won 49 tests against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. One more test win would fetch England its 50^th win against West Indies. England has carved 110 test wins against Australia and 64 test wins against South Africa.

England would become the second team in the annals of test cricket to win 50 plus tests against three oppositions after Australia. Australia has won 146 tests against England, 52 tests against South Africa and 58 tests against West Indies.

England has won 34 tests against West Indies at home prior to the start of the second test. One more test win would fetch England its 35^th win at home against West Indies. England has carved 53 test wins at home against Australia

England would become the second team in the annals of test cricket to win 35 plus home tests against two oppositions after Australia. Australia has won 95 home tests against England and 37 home tests against West Indies.

JE Root of England has an aggregate of 803 runs against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. He requires 197 runs to total 1000 plus runs against West Indies. If he gets them, then he would become the 17^th England batsman to aggregate 1000 plus runs against West Indies.

JE Root has scored seven fifties against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. Three more fifties in the ensuing series would fetch him ten fifties. If he gets them, then he would become the tenth England batsman to score ten fifties against West Indies.

SCJ Broad has scored six zeroes against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. He needs one more zero to collect his seventh duck against West Indies and share the record for most ducks against West Indies by England batsmen with PI Pollock, JA Snow and DL Underwood

JE Root has led England in 39 tests prior to the start of the second test. One more test would fetch him 40 captaincy assignments. He would then become the seventh captain to lead England in 40 plus tests. Others are – AN Cook {59}, MA Atherton {54}, MP Vaughan {51}, AJ Strauss {50}, N Hussain {45} and PBH May {41}

JE Root has pouched 114 catches as a fieldsman other than wicketkeepers prior to the start of the second test. Eight more catches would fetch him 122 catches and with it the distinction of becoming the second England fieldsman to pouch most catches. AN Cook has the record with 175 catches. JE Root would go past MC Cowdrey {120}, IT Botham {120} and AJ Strauss {121} on his way to occupy the second place.

JE Root has pouched 68 catches at home as a fieldsman other than wicketkeepers prior to the start of the second test. Two more catches would fetch him 70 catches and with it the distinction of becoming the fourth England fieldsman to pouch 70 plus catches at home. Others are – AN Cook {113}, AJ Strauss {83} and MC Cowdrey {70}

JE Root has pouched 13 catches against West Indies as a fieldsman other than wicketkeepers prior to the start of the second test. Two more catches would fetch him 15 catches and with it the distinction of becoming the 19th England fieldsman to pouch 15 or more catches against West Indies.

JO Holder has an aggregate of 1917 runs prior to the start of the second test. He needs 83 more runs for his 2000 test runs. If he gets it, he would then become the 38^th West Indies batsman to total 2000 plus test runs.

JO Holder of West Indies has scored 1537 runs and captured 97 wickets while leading West Indies. Three more wickets would fetch him 100 wickets and with it he would earn the distinction of becoming the second West Indies captain to score 1500 runs and capture 100 wickets. GS Sobers is the other West Indies captain who has scored 3528 runs and captured 117 wickets

JO Holder of West Indies has scored 1537 runs and captured 97 wickets while leading West Indies. Three more wickets would fetch him 100 wickets and with it he would earn the distinction of becoming the fourth captain in the annals of test cricket to score 1500 runs and capture 100 wickets. Others are GS Sobers, Imran Khan and DL Vettori.

If JO Holder achieves the captioned double, then West Indies will become the only team in the annals of test cricket to have two captains scoring 1500 runs and 100 wickets.

JO Holder of West Indies has captured 97 wickets while leading West Indies. Three more wickets would fetch him 100 wickets and with it he would earn the distinction of becoming the ninth captain in the annals of test cricket to capture 100 wickets. The following table furnishes the bowlers

If JO Holder captured 100 wickets, then West Indies will become the third team in the annals of test cricket to have two captains capturing 100 wickets. India and Pakistan are the other two teams.

JM Anderson of England has captured 49 wickets at home against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. He needs one more wickets for his 50 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the sixth bowler in the annals of test cricket to capture 50 plus wickets at home against West Indies. Others are- GD McGrath {60}, FS Trueman {56}, DK Lillee (55}, N Kapil Dev {54} and SM Pollock {50}

JM Anderson of England has captured 49 wickets at home against West Indies prior to the start of the second test. He needs one more wicket for his 50 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the second England bowler in the annals of test cricket to capture 50 plus wickets at home against West Indies after FS Trueman. FS Trueman has captured 56 wickets.

JM Anderson of England has captured 588 wickets prior to the start of the second test. He needs 12 more wickets for his 600 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the fourth bowler in the annals of test cricket to capture 600 plus wickets.  Others are- M Muralidharan {800}, SK Warne {708} and A Kumble {619}

Perhaps for the first time, England team will be having two pace bowlers with 300 plus wickets in a home test. JM Anderson has an aggregate of 368 wickets at home and SCJ Broad has an aggregate of 305 wickets at home.

SCJ Broad has an aggregate of 485 wickets prior to the start of the second test. He requires 15 more wickets for his 500 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the seventh    bowler to capture 500 plus wickets in the annals of test cricket. The following table lists all the bowlers who have captured 500 plus wickets

If SCJ Broad gets 500 wickets, then England will become the second team to have two bowlers with 500 plus wickets. Australia is the other team with SK Warne {708} and GD McGrath {563}

If SCJ Broad gets 500 wickets England will become the  first team to have two pace bowlers with 500 plus wickets.

SCJ Broad has an aggregate 3211 runs and 485 wickets prior to the start of the second test. He requires 15 more wickets for his 500 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the second cricketer to score 3000 plus runs and capture 500 wickets in tests. SK Warne has scored 3154 runs and captured 708 wickets

SCJ Broad has an aggregate 3211 runs and 485 wickets prior to the start of the second test. He requires 15 more wickets for his 500 wickets. If he gets them, then he would become the first fast bowler to perform the feat of scoring 3000 plus runs and capture 500 wickets in tests.

JM Anderson has pouched 95 catches prior to the start of the second test apart from scoring 1199 runs and 587 wickets. He needs five more catches for his 100 catches. He is all set to become the second all rounder in the annals of test cricket to score 1000 plus runs, capture 100 plus wicket and pouch 100 plus catches. SK Warne is the other cricketer to perform such a feat. He has scored 3154 runs, captured 708 wickets and pouched 125 catches

JM Anderson has pouched 95 catches prior to the start of the second test He needs seven more catches for his 100 catches. He is all set to become tenth England fieldsman to pouch 100 plus catches. The following table lists the England fieldsmen with 100 plus catches.

Test cricket has witnessed 82 occasions of a batsman scoring a ninety in  the fourth innings of  test. J Blackwood’s 95 against England in the just concluded test at Southhampton provides the 82^nd occasions.

Out of these 82 occasions, it is interesting to note that 26 occasions are on a winning cause, 38 occasions were in a losing cause, 17 occasions ended in drawn tests and one occasion in a tied test.

The following table lists the batsmen who have scored nineties in the fourth innings of a test in a winning cause.

ST Gabriel captured five for 75 in England’s second innings to provide the 95^th occasion of a West Indies bowler capturing five or more wickets in an innings against England. It also provides 60^th occasion of a West Indies bowler capturing five or more wickets against England in England

ST Gabriel captured nine for 137 in this test to provide the ninth occasion of a West Indies bowler capturing exact nine wickets in an test against England. All such occasions are tabulated below

ST Gabriel captured nine for 137 in this test to provide the seventh occasion of a West Indies bowler capturing exact nine wickets in an test against England in England. All such occasions are tabulated below

JM Blackwood became the fifth batsman in the annals of test cricket to score nineties in the  fourth innings of a test on two occasions when he made 95 in the just concluded test. Prior to this he had made a similar score against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in Oct 3016. SM Gavaskar, JB Hobbs, IVA Richards and Shakib Al Hasan are the other four batsmen who have accomplished this feat.

At the end of this test, BA Stokes had an aggregate of 4145 runs and 153 wickets. His 150^th wicket came in this test. He became the sixth cricketer in the annals of test cricket to achieve the double of 4000 runs and 150 wickets. The following table lists all the six cricketers.