Steve Bucknor

Bucknor played as a goalkeeper in Jamaican parish leagues in the 1960s. In 1964 he played in goal for Jamaica in a schoolboy international versus Brazil, which Jamaica drew 1–1.[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wcm/content/story/330774.html "The global village bobby"], Cricinfo, March 1998, Retrieved on 5 June 2008.

Bucknor was a FIFA referee in a CONCACAF and World Cup qualifier between El Salvador and the Netherlands Antilles in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/150015.html |title=The greatest one-day knock of all |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=5 June 2019}}

Bucknor's first international cricket fixture was a One Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and India at Antigua on 18 March 1989. His first Test match was at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, between 28 April and 3 May 1989, with the competing teams again being the West Indies and India. After umpiring in a few international matches, he was selected to umpire at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, and went on to stand in the final despite being quite inexperienced.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65156.html Steve Bucknor and Brian Aldridge for the 3rd & 2nd time respectively in Cricket World Cup Final] ESPN cricinfo Bucknor also officiated in the next four World Cup finals in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007, with the 2007 World Cup taking place in his native West Indies.

In 1994 the ICC introduced a policy whereby one of the umpires in each Test match would be independent of the competing nations, selected from an International Panel of Umpires. Bucknor was a member of this panel from its foundation until the ICC changed its policy on umpires again in 2002. Since then both umpires in Test matches, and one of the umpires in ODIs have been independent of the competing countries. The officials are now chosen from the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, whom the ICC consider to be the world's best umpires. Bucknor maintained a place on the Elite Panel from its foundation until his retirement.

In May 2006, he accused TV companies of doctoring their images to make umpires look bad and key players look good.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/246387.html|title=Umpire Bucknor accuses TV crews of doctored images|work=Cricinfo}} Bucknor was one of the standing umpires in the 2007 Cricket World Cup final, during which play was infamously continued despite very poor light.{{cite news | url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/292771.html | title=World Cup Final farce | publisher=CricInfo | access-date=8 January 2008}} Consequently, he and the four other officials involved were suspended from the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa.{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/06/23/scbrig123.xml | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=World final officials are axed by ICC | first=Simon | last=Briggs | date=23 June 2007 | access-date=24 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Dave Richardson, the general manager of cricket at the ICC, has said Bucknor's umpiring accuracy was at 96% during 2005–06,[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/246794.html Cricinfo – ICC respond to Bucknor] above the average of 94.8% for the Elite Panel. In 2007, he was short-listed for the Umpire of the Year award, which was ultimately won by Simon Taufel.[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/310342.html Cricinfo – Taufel voted top umpire of the year] In January 2008, he was removed by the ICC from officiating in the third Test between Australia and India in Perth, and replaced by Billy Bowden, after his several incorrect decisions in the second Test in Sydney had contributed to India's defeat.[http://www.cricketdawn.com/featured-articles/the-best-cricket-umpires-of-all-time.html "The Best Cricket Umpires of All Time"] Cricinfo, retrieved 8 January 2008 Former umpire Dickie Bird suggested that Bucknor had "gone on too long",[http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12172/3030538/Bird-Buck-stops-here Bird-Buck stops here] Sky Sports retrieved 8 January 2008 while Bucknor blamed the BCCI's financial power for his ouster.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-used-financial-clout-to-oust-me-bucknor/story-w31iOTR8WurIuzhJKmjfLL.html |title=BCCI used financial clout to ouster me: Bucknor |date=17 March 2019 |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=2 April 2024}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25196676-5013449,00.html|title=India used its might against me: Steve Bucknor|work=The Australian|date=16 November 2008|access-date=18 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327080755/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25196676-5013449,00.html|archive-date=27 March 2009|url-status=dead}}

Looking back on his career, Steve Bucknor recalled making several incorrect decisions against Sachin Tendulkar from India.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/sachin-tendulkar-steve-bucknor-umpire-wrong-decisions-6468597/|title=Umpire Steve Bucknor recalls wrong decisions he made against Sachin Tendulkar|work=Cricinfo}} The ICC confirmed on 23 February 2009 that Bucknor had decided to retire from umpiring in March 2009. His final Test match was the 3rd Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town on 19–23 March, and his last One Day International match was the 4th ODI between his native West Indies and England at Barbados on 29 March, bringing his 20-year career as an official to an end.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/391837.html|title=Steve Bucknor to retire from umpiring|work=Cricinfo}}

Bucknor has stood as an onfield umpire in five World Cup tournaments, during which he has officiated 44 matches including five finals.

Bucknor held the record for the most Test matches umpired until December 2019, when Aleem Dar of Pakistan stood in his 129th Test match as an on-field umpire, surpassing his record of officiating in the most number of Test matches.{{cite web|url= https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/aleem-dar-on-brink-of-breaking-world-record |title= Aleem Dar on brink of breaking world record |work=Cricket Pakistan |access-date=11 December 2019}} He was the first umpire to have officiated in over 100 Test matches.

Bucknor has received the ICC's Bronze Bails Awards for umpiring in 100 ODIs, as well as the Golden Bails Award for umpiring 100 Test matches.

{{Reflist}}

• Silvera, Janet. (7 October 2007) Jamaica Gleaner [https://web.archive.org/web/20080112070308/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071007/out/out1.html Howzat? Firm decisions make Bucknor a hit.]
• [https://archive.today/20130204050156/http://www.thesportscampus.com/20090328460/articles/tribute-to-steve-bucknor Tribute to the retiring Steve Bucknor]

• [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51237.html Steve Bucknor Profile] on Cricinfo website.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090201010047/http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/about-icc/match-officials.html Main page of Elite Panel].

{{Cricket umpires}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bucknor, Steve}}

Category:Living people

Category:People from Montego Bay

Category:Jamaican cricket umpires

Category:Jamaican football referees

Category:Members of the Order of Jamaica

Category:West Indian Test cricket umpires

Category:West Indian One Day International cricket umpires

Category:1946 births

Category:Cornwall College, Jamaica alumni