THE West Indies haven’t got to a World Cup final in 20 years but there has been a West Indian in each of the last three and Steve Bucknor will be there again come tomorrow.
The tall Jamaican from Montego Bay, known to players as “Slow Death” for the deliberate way of giving decisions, eclipses a record previously held by the celebrated Englishman Dickie Bird when he officiates for the fourth successive time in the 2003 final between Australia and the West Indies at the Wanderers Stadium.
Bird stood in the first three finals at Lord’s, in 1975, 1979 and 1983, ironically all involving the West Indies. His record of 66 Tests had already been surpassed in England last year by Bucknor who has now done 77.
For the third time his partner will be the portly Englishman David Shepherd who Bucknor described yesterday as “the perfect combination”.
“We know each other well, the way we do things, and we get on well,” he said. “We feel at ease with each other and the International Cricket Council (ICC) seems to have recognised this.”
Bucknor is even more pleased with this appointment than his previous three because it has come strictly through his performance in the tournament, not from his experience.
“For the umpires to move forward, there has been a grading system for the first time,” he explained. “Marks have been given after each game by the two captains and the match referee and the performance also viewed in London by the ICC.”
“So it means you had to do well to move forward,” he added. “Everybody is seeing and judging you and if you don’t do well you don’t move on. It gives everybody an even chance.”
Two of the eight umpires on ICC’s so-called elite panel, Dave Orchard of South Africa and Russell Tiffin of Zimbabwe, were both cut from the list after the preliminary round.
ICC General Manager- Cricket, the former South African wicket-keeper David Richardson said yesterday Bucknor and Shepherd had “fully justified their selection, based on the extremely high standards they had shown throughout the World Cup”.
“David and Steve have both had outstanding tournaments, confirming their standing as two of the best and most experienced umpires in the game,” he added.
New Zealander Billy Bowden, who has caught the public’s attention with his showy signalling and gained the players’ confidence with his decisions, was named fourth umpire above others on the elite list on the basis of the new grading system.
South African Rudi Koertzen is the tv replay umpire and Sri Lankan Ranjan Madugalle the match referee.
Bucknor was chosen as one of the ICC’s eight full-time umpires just over a year ago. It means extra work that keeps him away from Jamaica and his family for all but three months of the year.
“It’s tough but that’s a choice I’ve made,” he said. “It’s a profession and more work means more pay. And it’s something I really enjoy so I really can’t have any real complaints.”
He does have “one big regret”.
The ICC’s decision to appoint independent umpires for Tests and now one-day internationals means he no longer can stand in international matches in the West Indies.
“Everyone would like to perform in front of your own people but that’s not now possible,” he said. “It’s something I regret but have to accept.”
Now 57, Bucknor is targetting the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean as his farewell to the job he has done with such distinction since his first Test and one-day international in the home series against India in 1989.
“I’m working towards that in the hope that the ICC will still think I’m good enough by then to do it,” he said. “I’m training hard, I’ve dropped quite a bit of weight and I’m fitter than ever.”
“Shep is now 62 and I’ll only be 61during the 2007 tournament so I’m hoping,” he added.
Bucknor took up umpiring when he found he was on the wrong end of too many decision as a club cricketer.
He was also actively involved in football as a club coach in Jamaica and a FIFA registered umpired who carried one World Cup qualifying match between Costa Rica and the Dutch Antilles before paying his full-time attention to cricket.
His World Cup sequence has only been possible because the West Indies’ failure to make it through to the finals since Clive Lloyd’s team got there for the third time in 1983, losing to India.
“It’s been sad for the team but a chance for me,” he said.
He recalled that he actually had his bags packed and ready to return home in the 1996 tournament when the West Indies collapsed against Australia to be beaten by five runs in the semi-final.
It meant a quick change of plans as he and Shepherd were appointed for Australia’s match, and defeat, against Sri Lanka in the final at Lahore.
In 1999 in England, as this time, he has known since the West Indies’ elimination in the qualifying round that there was a good chance he would be appointed to the final.
On Sunday morning, he will go through to his established routine before heading off to Wanderers.
“I’ll read a passage from the Bible, as I do every morning, browse through the papers and have a little breakfast,” he said. “Once I get onto the field, I’m ready.”
And no one doubts he’ll perform with his usual calm, affable efficiency and ensure the West Indies are well represented, even though their team is not there.