Crowds cheer umpire as Bucknor reaches century

CALCUTTA, Wednesday (AFP) Some 30,000 Indian fans gave West Indian Steve Bucknor a standing ovation on Wednesday for becoming the first umpire in cricket history to stand in 100 Test matches.

The 58-year-old Jamaican was presented a silver plaque on behalf of the Board of Control for Cricket in India before play started in the second Test against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens here.

He will also receive the Golden Bails award from International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani on Saturday, the scheduled fourth day of the Test.

Bucknor, who has officiated in four cricket World Cups, stood in his first international game during the fourth Test between India and the West Indies in his native Kingston, Jamaica, in April 1989.

He was a qualified football referee before switching to cricket full-time in 1992.

"It means a lot to be the first umpire to reach this milestone, because when I first started in the West Indies I never dreamed I could get anywhere near that figure," Bucknor was quoted as saying in an ICC media release.