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 | | Wednesday, 1 May, 2002, 15:45 GMT 16:45 UK Bucknor equals record  Bucknor could stand in 15 Tests in the next year
Steve Bucknor equaled Dickie Bird's record of 66 Test appearances as an umpire when he took the field in Lahore on Wednesday for Pakistan's meeting with New Zealand. And the West Indian, who made his debut in the fourth Test between West Indies and India on his home island of Jamaica 13 years ago, will create history in Karachi next week.
But another leading umpire believes that the extra pressure that has been placed on Test umpires in the last few years make the West Indian's achievement greater. "You can't compare the two," says Bird. "Nobody will do 24 years as a Test umpire again." "There's a Test every day and anyone on the ICC panel could reach 66 Tests in seven years." Intensity Whereas Bird only umpired a handful of matches each year, Bucknor has stood in an average of six since joining the International Cricket Council's panel in 1993. And, with the arrival of a new elite group of eight men in the middle, with two neutral umpires in every Test, that figure could rise to 15 each year.
"I would like to see any of the ICC panel umpires after two years in the job," says Willey, who turned down the chance to join the group saying it would mean too much time away from his family. "Until now, you would do one Test and then have maybe a month or so before the next, doing county cricket. Now every match is a Test. "On the field it's all right, but the pressures of television and the newspapers mean the umpire is under a lot more scrutiny." Respect Willey's main memory of his first Test was that Bucknor was quiet and helpful, and that he simply wished him 'good luck' before play began. It is that quiet considered nature that has made Bucknor one of the most widely-respected officials in world cricket.
And, if a batsman is to be sent on his way, he gives a nod, and an apologetic smile before raising the finger. It is not that he never makes a bad decision - he admitted that an lbw call against Nasser Hussain in Pakistan 18 months ago was far from his best. But that ability to acknowledge his mistakes goes some way to redeeming any error. And England were grateful for his no-nonsense approach as Pakistan were accused of time-wasting to prevent the tourists snatching the final match in the twilight of Karachi. "You've got to respect the umpire as a person as well as respecting his decision-making," says Willey.
The selection of Bucknor for what was expected to be a volatile World Cup match between India and Pakistan at Old Trafford in 1999 shows how highly prized his ability to keep things low key is. He already owns the record for World Cup appearances, at 25, and three years ago tied Bird as having stood in three World Cup finals. Off the field, according to Willey, Bucknor will usually be seen with shopping bag in hand. "He's always shopping, for anything he can take home. He comes with a list from his family and takes home cricket bags full of things." | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Cricket stories: Links to more Cricket stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||
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