 Steve Bucknor has umpired 120 Test matches |
West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor has expressed his disappointment at being axed for the remainder of the series between Australia and India. Bucknor was relieved of his duties by world cricket's governing body the ICC after complaints of his performance in the fiery second Test in Sydney.
"I am disappointed that I am not continuing the tour," he said.
"I consider it a sad day to see umpires sidelined after making only two wrong decisions out of a record 35 appeals."
Bucknor was involved in two much-criticised decisions that went against India.
He ruled that Andrew Symonds was not out on 30 on the first day, enabling the Australian to hit a career-high 162 in the first innings. Symonds later admitted he nicked the ball to the wicketkeeper.
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On the last day, Symonds appealed for a caught behind decision against Rahul Dravid and Bucknor gave the Indian opener out off a ball that had hit his pad.
The second Test was a fiery affair with allegations of racism surfacing following Australia's victory.
Bucknor's contract with the ICC runs out in March but he is expected to continue as a professional umpire beyond that.
The 61-year-old Jamaican is a veteran of a record 120 Tests and is the most experienced umpire in the world.
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