More than 20 years after one of cricket’s most controversial umpiring decisions, the former west indies Officer steve buckner Has accepted that he has made a mistake. In a recent interview, the 79-year-old said that giving Sachin Tendulkar The dismissal was the wrong decision during the 2003–04 Brisbane Test, a decision that sparked huge debate at the time.
Steve Buckner’s controversial call to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar
This incident happened during the first test 2003–04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy At the Gabba in Brisbane. Tendulkar was facing Australian fast bowler jason gillespie When he decided to leave a ball which came back sharply and hit his pads.
On Brisbane’s bouncy pitch, it seemed as if the ball was going over the stumps. However, after a strong appeal by the Australian players, umpire Buckner gave Tendulkar out LBW. This decision surprised everyone, as it seemed that the ball was too high to hit the stumps. Tendulkar had to return without opening the account and was out for a duck on three balls.
The decision stunned commentators and fans around the world. Former England captain Tony GreigThose who were in the commentary box called it a terrible decision on air. Years later, Buckner himself admitted that it was actually the wrong call, admitting that he had made a mistake that day.
Bakar spoke openly on his controversial decision
Speaking to the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association on February 24, 2026, Buckner opened up about the controversial decision that still sticks with him all these years later. The former umpire admitted that the decision to give Sachin Tendulkar out LBW in Brisbane is something he has never completely forgotten.
Buckner said this incident still comes up in conversation almost every day. Fans, journalists and cricket lovers often remind him of that moment and question why he took this decision. He acknowledged that this was indeed an error and accepted responsibility for it.
“Giving Sachin Tendulkar out leg before wicket… It’s a matter of knowing that it was a mistake. To this day, every day, people talk about it. Why did I give him out? Was he out and so on? But then in life, mistakes happen. I have accepted that it was a mistake, and life goes on,” Buckner said.
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