Steve Bucknor

Steve Bucknor

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Anthony Bucknor
Nickname	Slow Death
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Umpiring information
Tests umpired	119 (1989–present)
ODIs umpired	167 (1989–present)
Career statistics
Source: Cricinfo, 8 September 2007

The Honourable Stephen Anthony Bucknor OJ, popularly known as Steve Bucknor, is an internationally known cricket umpire. He was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on 31 May 1946. He became a high school mathematics teacher and sports coach, before going on to be one of Jamaica's leading sports officials as an international football referee and cricket umpire. In October 2007 he was awarded the Order of Jamaica, Commander Class, for outstanding services in the field of sports.

Football Referee

The highlight of his time as a FIFA referee was the World Cup qualifier between El Salvador and the Netherlands Antilles in 1988. Soon after this Bucknor had to retire from football refereeing because the FIFA age limit for referees was lowered to 45. However, this allowed him to pursue his career as a cricket umpire.

Cricket Career

Bucknor's first international cricket fixture was a One Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and India at Antigua on March 18, 1989. His first Test match was at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, between April 28 and May 3, 1989, with the competing teams again being the West Indies and India. After just a handful of international matches, he was selected to umpire at the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australasia, and went on to stand in the final. He also stood in the next 4 World Cup finals (in 1996, 1999, 2003 & 2007), with the 2007 final holding a special note since it took place in his native West Indies. It seems unlikely that any umpire will overtake Bucknor's record of five consecutive World Cup finals.

Initial Career

In the early 1990s, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a policy of one home umpire and one neutral umpire for all Test matches. The neutral officials were chosen from a panel of the world's best umpires, and Bucknor had the honour of being included in the inaugural list. In 2002, the ICC changed its policy again, and decided to have two neutral umpires in each Test match and one neutral & one home umpire in each ODI. The neutral officials are selected from the ICC Elite Umpire Panel in which Bucknor found a place.

Achievements

World Cup

He has stood in a record five consecutive world cup finals.

Test Match Record

Bucknor has also umpired more Test matches than anyone else. The highlights of his Test match career include Bangladesh's first ever Test match, his 100th Test (the match between India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens, Calcutta in March 2005), making him the first (and so far only) umpire to stand in 100 Test matches.

Ashes Record

He has stood in no fewer than 14 Ashes Tests, at least one in each Ashes series since 1994, including the thrilling Boxing day Test in 1998 and the Old Trafford Test in 2005.

Style of Umpiring

Bucknor is slow in his decision-making often having a lengthy pause for consideration before raising the finger of doom. That has earned him the nickname "Slow Death Bucknor".

International Umpiring Statistics

	First	Last	Total
Tests	West Indies v India at Kingston, April 1989	England v India at The Oval, August 2007	119
ODIs	West Indies v India at St. John's, March 1989	India v Australia at Chandigarh, October 2007	167

Forthcoming Appointments

Team 1	Team 2	Match	Date	Venue
Australia	India	2nd Test	2-6 January	Sydney
Australia	India	3rd Test	16-20 January	Perth

Awards

• Bucknor has received the ICC's "bronze bails" award for officiating in 100 ODIs.
• He was the first (and to date the only) umpire to receive the ICC's "golden bails" award for officiating in 100 Test matches.

Further reading

• Silvera, Janet. (October 7, 2007) Jamaica Gleaner Howzat? Firm decisions make Bucknor a hit.

External links

• Steve Bucknor Profile on ICC website
• Steve Bucknor Profile on Cricinfo website

Steve Bucknors Darker Side: http://www.petitiononline.com/RetireSB/petition.html