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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

One of the few things Steve Bucknor enjoys as an international cricket umpire is travelling and meeting people. Being a member of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) elite panel of umpires gives him that opportunity, even though it means seeing very little of his family of seven children and wife.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries that Bucknor has certainly taken a liking to because of its friendly people.

"I enjoy myself in Sri Lanka because wherever I walk somebody is willing to speak to me or say something. You could ask a question and get an answer. The friendliness of the people is what amazes me," said Bucknor.

The 56-year-old Jamaican became the highest capped Test umpire in the game's history when he overtook Englishman Dickie Bird's record of 66 Test matches during the third Test between Sri Lanka and England at Manchester two months ago.

"To have overtaken Dickie Bird is not necessarily a special feeling, but it is a good feeling because it means that I have now attained top position. In my case I am happy to do as many matches as possible," said Bucknor.

"I enjoy the game a lot because it means putting bread on the table. Wherever the games are played I am prepared to go. There is enjoyment in doing my job. I will umpire as long as my physical condition allows me," he said.

When Bucknor started his umpiring career he never thought that he would go this far because Test matches were few and far between.

"I only got one Test per year or so. To have been the West Indies record holder was the target at that time, until the ICC came up with a special panel and there were more matches per year rather than one," said Bucknor, who has more than doubled the West Indian record of 31 Tests held by Douglas San Hue.

Bucknor is the only Test umpire to have also officiated in a World Cup soccer match having qualified himself as a FIFA soccer referee. He officiated the World Cup qualifying round game between El Salvador and Dutch Antilles in 1988. He had to stop soccer refereeing when he reached the age of 50 because there was an age limit (now it is 45).

Bucknor does not regret giving up soccer refereeing to cricket umpiring because it would not have enabled him to visit countries like Sri Lanka and Australia. In fact it has in some way helped him in becoming a good umpire.

"I never had anything to report to the match referee on the cricket field. This is because my football refereeing skills tells me before anything starts, get there and break it out. i haven't allowed opponents to clash. Nothing gets out of hand and I have been reasonably successful," said Bucknor.

No umpire is infallible and that includes Bucknor. "I am human and I have made many bad decisions," he said.

"The point is, making too many bad decisions in one game. If you have made one bad decision in a game, I don't think I would feel too bad about it. One bad decision cannot outweigh the good decisions. Sometimes the concentration lapses as happened in Manchester when I gave (Kumar) Sangakkara leg before wicket. These things do happen because I am human. But I can't afford to make it hurt because it will spill over to the next day. We all make bad decisions, but life must go on," said Bucknor.

"Sometimes I have told the player concerned that I had made a bad decision. But I don't think I should do it every time because some decisions are hard ones and the cricketers do not make it easier for you," he said.

The most difficult Test Bucknor has umpired is the one between England and Australia at Melbourne in 1998 where after the loss of one day's play due to inclement weather, and extra hour had to be played on subsequent days to catch up on lost time.

"The game was over after 8 1/4 hours after four days, but it was difficult for me physically and otherwise. I had to concentrate for long hours and I was on the field after tea for 4 1/4 hours which is not to be repeated I hope because of the special regulations that have come in since then.

"The physical taxation of my body was such that my knees were giving away. But I was happy in the end, because endurance is something I believe in. I train very hard. I walk and I run and do as much exercise as possible. At the back of my mind the endurance factor is always there and I am prepared to go through with it, be it hot or be it cold," said Bucknor.

The worst umpiring error Bucknor made was in the Test between India and South Africa when he did not use the technology that was available for a run out decision involving batsman Jonty Rhodes and relied on his own judgement, which ultimately proved to be wrong.

"At that time the ICC was not saying you must go for the third umpire because it was an experiment. Rhodes was run out by almost nine inches and I didn't ask for a TV replay. He went on to make 91 and the Indians weren't too happy," recalled Bucknor.

He said television technology had its pluses and minuses.

"It has certainly taken some pressure off because some decisions you can ask for, but the other decisions you have to make. Later on, technology will prove you right or wrong. When technology proves you wrong, it is for the commentators or for those who are ardent cricket followers to know that the umpire sees it once at normal speed. To sit in a living room watching TV replays and to judge an umpire, is very unfair," said Bucknor.

Pressure is something that Bucknor doesn't allow him to be dictated by.

"Pressure comes from within and outside. Once my mind is made up give the decision. I am supposed to do a fair job. It doesn't matter the times they are appealing, how close the decisions are. I tell myself, 'Hey you need to do a good job because if you work well today, then you might get employed again tomorrow'," he said.

Bucknor is one of the few umpires who takes his own time in giving the batsmen out and he has his reasons for doing so.

"That is something that I have worked out to myself. As an up and coming umpire I was told that I took too long to make decisions when everybody else was doing it early. I do not believe in traditions. I believe in what is correct or what works for you. My policy is take the extra time to think about a decision, replay the action and be certain that the decision that you are going to give is one that you want to give. Very often umpires make decisions hastily and before the batsmen moves off he realises that he had made a mistake," said Bucknor.

He welcomed the new technology of umpires calling for the TV umpire to clarify doubtful lbw decisions, but said the formation of the elite panel had its pluses and minuses.

"The elite panel is good for the game because the best umpire are doing the best games. But it also means that it is stifling the growth of umpires who aspire to greatness. They will not have enough opportunities to practice at the next level and it is going to make it difficult for them," he said.

What Bucknor yearns for most is for West Indies cricket to return to its former glory as world cricket champions, a title they held for nearly two decades from the seventies through to the eighties.

"The biggest mistake West Indies cricket is making is that there is no proper coaching at junior level and as a result the cricketers are making mistakes after reaching the top," he said.

The greatest West Indies cricketer?

"Viv Richards was the greatest I have been on the same cricket field with. When I started umpiring he was in his twilight years. He was great not because of his cricket, but for his personality. He was a no-nonsense person. He can be friendly at times and he speaks his mind out every time. These are the people I like talking to," Bucknor said.

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