Umpire Admits Tendulkar LBW Call Was A Blunder

Veteran West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor has publicly admitted to making a mistaken decision against Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The incident occurred during a Test match between India and Australia in Brisbane in 2003-04.

Bucknor, now 79, officiated over 120 Test matches and multiple World Cups during his distinguished career. However, he is notably remembered for controversial decisions involving Tendulkar in high-stakes games.

During the 2003-04 series, Bucknor gave Tendulkar out leg before wicket (LBW) for just three runs, a decision that shocked fans and was later widely debated. Twenty-two years later, Bucknor confirmed in an interview that it was an error.

He stated that the ball was clearly missing the stumps, meaning Tendulkar should not have been dismissed. Bucknor explained that while mistakes happen, he has accepted this particular one, which continues to be discussed by fans.

The dismissal involved Tendulkar attempting to leave a ball that struck his pads. Despite an appeal from the Australian team, Bucknor's decision was heavily criticized, with commentator Tony Greig famously calling it 'dreadful' live on air. Replays confirmed the ball would have gone over the stumps.