My two mistakes in 2008 Sydney Test might have cost India the game: Umpire Bucknor

Mumbai: Former umpire Steve Bucknor has acknowledged his two mistakes during the controversial Australia-India Sydney Test in 2008 might have cost India the game.

(Photo: Twitter/ICC)

The Test match made headlines for the “monkeygate” spat between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh and the contentious umpiring decisions.

“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,” Bucknor said in an interview with Mid-day.

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. (UNI)