Border-Gavaskar Trophy has never been short of drama. Over the years, the series between India and Australia has provided several controversial moments, however, one can't just look past India's trip Down Under in 2008-09. This particular series is remembered for the controversial Sydney Test. From being a thriller to controversial on-field calls to the incident involving Harbhajan Singh and the late Andrew Symonds, the game saw it all.
The 'Monkeygate' episode involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds garnered all the headlines, however, one cannot forget how all the umpires involved came under the scanner for giving several controversial calls.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has now recalled memories from that Test, saying umpire Steve Bucknor made his debut for Australia in that series. The former international umpire had given Symonds not out when he had clearly edged the ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
“There were a lot of edges but Bucknor saab didn’t give anything out. There were edges, there were appeals, and at one point Ricky Ponting caught one and gave it out himself," Harbhajan Singh said while doing Hindi commentary for Star Sports.
"In that series, Bucknor made his debut for Australia. He played so well in that match for them. The only thing he was interested in was being the 12th man," he added.
Bucknor had admitted to making umpiring errors
During the Sydney Test in 2008, Steve Bucknor also did not refer a stumping call to the third umpire. Replays clearly showed that MS Dhoni took off the bails in time to catch Andrew Symonds out of the crease.
{{/usCountry}}During the Sydney Test in 2008, Steve Bucknor also did not refer a stumping call to the third umpire. Replays clearly showed that MS Dhoni took off the bails in time to catch Andrew Symonds out of the crease.
{{/usCountry}}There were several other umpiring errors in the Sydney Test. Mark Benson had given Ricky Ponting not out when the right-hander had edged Sourav Ganguly's delivery down the legside.
Michael Clarke also took a low catch of Sourav Ganguly in the final innings, however, the replays indicated that the Australian had touched the ball on the ground. Ricky Ponting had famously raised his finger back then, prompting the umpire to give it out.
Earlier, in 2020, Steve Bucknor had conceded a couple of errors he had made in that Test.
“I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008,” he told Mid-Day.
“Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on day five, might have cost India the game. But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me," he added.
Steve Bucknor was eventually removed from officiating the third Test in Perth by ICC. The umpiring howlers had resulted in India losing the Sydney Test by 122 runs.