"To err is human": Steve Bucknor recalls handing Sachin Tendulkar wrong decisions

Former International Cricket Council(ICC) umpire Steve Bucknor recalled incidents involving  former Indian  Sachin Tendulkar and  how he was adjusted erroneously out on two occasions.

Bucknor spoke about the match at Gabba  in 2003 when he adjusted Tendulkar out LBW but now agreed that the Jason Gillespie delivery was going over the wickets. He also recounted the incident when he thought Tendulkar had edged an Abdul Razzaq delivery into the hands of the wicket-keeper in 2005 at the iconic Eden Gardens.


"Tendulkar was given out on two different ocassions when those were mistakes. I do not think any umpire would want to do a wrong thing. It lives with him and his  futurw could be jeopardised ," Bucknor said on Mason and Guests  radio programme in Barbados.


"To err is human" Once in Australia , I gave him out leg before wicket  and the ball was going over the top . Another time , in India it was caught behind. The ball deviated after passing the bat  but there was no touch . But the match was at Eden Gardens and when you are at the Eden and India is batting , you hear nothing .

"Because 100,000 spectators are making noise . Thosee were the mistakes and I was unhappy. I am saying a human is going to make mistakes and accepting mistakes are part of life," he added.


Bucknor who is regarded as one of the finest umpires ever to officiate in the game , also  spoke about the importance of technology in the sport . He feels that review systems helps in giving correct decisions  more often than not and that is better for the sport overall and not just the officials.


" I am not certain if it affects the confidence of umpires , but I know it has improved umpiring, " Bucknor said.


"The umpires who do not enjoy having technology around , I hope that they have a rethink. What it does if you make a mistake it can be corrected on the field," Bucknor said.


"Now thinking about when I was umpiring and I gave a batsman out who was not out , realizing I made a mistake it took  a long time to fall asleep that night . Now you can  fall asleep quickly because the correct decision is eventually given."