Legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s social media post triggered a hilarious meme fest on Saturday, November 16. Sachin took to X and posted a photo of him batting in front of a large tree. The shape of the tree itself resembled wickets used in the sport of cricket. The former batter asked his fans on X which umpire made the stumps feel this big.

The question garnered hilarious responses on social media, with many speculating that the post was a dig on former umpire Steve Bucknor, who had a difficult relationship with Sachin Tendulkar in the 90s and 2000s. Fans felt that Sachin’s post was a clear allusion to the controversial decisions made by Bucknor. The post quickly went viral, reigniting the debate and sparking a flurry of responses from fans who named Bucknor in the comments.

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan also got involved in the post and wrote Steve Bucknor would have run miles away from the field in the era of DRS.

“The one who would have run miles away from the cricket ground in the times of DRS. SB,” Pathan replied to the post.

Sachin Tendulkar vs Steve Bucknor

The relationship between Sachin Tendulkar, one of the most revered cricketers in history, and Steve Bucknor, a highly experienced and respected umpire, is marked by two contentious incidents that have become seminal moments in cricket lore. These incidents, which occurred during Test matches in 2003 and 2005, not only highlighted the fallibility of human judgement in umpiring but also sparked widespread criticism and debate.

The first of these incidents took place during a Test match between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane in 2003. Sachin Tendulkar, known for his exceptional batting skills, was given out leg before wicket (LBW) off a delivery from Jason Gillespie. However, TV replays unequivocally showed that the ball was going to clear the stumps, indicating a clear error on Bucknor’s part. This decision was particularly galling as it cut short what could have been a crucial innings from Tendulkar, leaving Indian fans and the cricket fraternity outraged. The mistake was so egregious that it became a major talking point, with many questioning Bucknor’s judgment and suggesting that his slow and methodical decision-making style might have contributed to the error.

The second incident occurred two years later, during a Test match between India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2005. Here, Tendulkar was given out caught behind off a delivery from Abdul Razzaq, despite there being no contact between the ball and Tendulkar’s bat. The delivery had swung away from Tendulkar after pitching, and replays confirmed that there was no edge. This decision was equally pivotal, ending a promising innings by Tendulkar and shifting the momentum of the match. The outcry from Indian fans and pundits was immediate, with many calling for higher standards in umpiring and criticising Bucknor for his mistake.

These incidents have had a lasting impact on the perception of Steve Bucknor, despite his otherwise illustrious career. Bucknor, who umpired a record 128 Test matches and five consecutive Cricket World Cup finals from 1992 to 2007, is widely regarded as one of the best umpires of his time. However, these two high-profile blunders against Tendulkar have often overshadowed his achievements. Bucknor himself has acknowledged these mistakes, expressing regret and admitting that they were errors. He has also highlighted the human element of umpiring, noting that mistakes are inevitable and can have significant consequences.

The introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket has been seen as a step towards mitigating such errors. Bucknor has endorsed the use of technology, stating that it has improved umpiring by allowing for the correction of wrong decisions on the field. This reflects a broader acknowledgement within the cricket community that while human umpires are prone to mistakes, technology can play a crucial role in ensuring fairness and accuracy.