REVEALED: Umpire Nigel Llong’s howlers were tribute to Steve Bucknor

Steve Bucknor, the great Jamaican, was not just a successful international umpire but a FIFA referee too. He has inspired many umpires over the years and Englishman Nigel Llong is surely a devotee of his.

The Isles of Caribbean have not only produced legendary cricketers but also some officials whose names will be etched in sports annals. Steve Bucknor, the great Jamaican, was not just a successful international umpire but a FIFA referee too. He has inspired many umpires over the years and Englishman Nigel Llong is surely a devotee of his. Why not? Both are honorary citizens of Australia. Bucknor for his efforts for Australia during the Sydney Test in 2008, while Llong shot to fame when his ‘howler’ as a TV umpire cost New Zealand the first-ever pink ball Test. Yes, yes, Nathan Lyon was out and even ardent Australian fans said so. No wonder, this is a mutual admiration club.

If you are an Indian fan, there may not be enough reason for you to like former umpire Steve Bucknor. Despite all the success in his career, the Jamaican will be more remembered for his howlers that cost India the Sydney Test of 2008. According to Bucknor, BCCI’s money power put a halt to his career and now he had his henchman Llong doing the job for him.

On the final day of the third Test between India and West Indies, Rohit Sharma’s overabundance of talent helped him get an inside edge onto the pad off the bowling of Miguel Cummins. However, Llong ruled him ‘out’. A few overs later, first innings centurion Wriddhiman Saha was ruled caught behind off a ‘no-ball’. Replays showed Cummins’ front foot almost reached Saha (do not mind the exaggeration) but Llong did a Bucknor as he felt consulting the third umpire was not needed. Coach Anil Kumble, who was captain during the Sydney Test, has seen enough of Bucknor to lose his cool and thankfully, Virat Kohli practices yoga these days or his expressions hinted that he would have made a ‘Sreesanth’ out of Llong. ALSO READ: This is how Virat Kohli rolled after India’s series win over West Indies

Our West Indian source informed us that Llong met Bucknor in Jamaica and both drank over the grief the latter had to encounter because of BCCI. Llong, a Bucknor devotee not only wanted to get back at Indians but also wanted ‘howlers’ to have its due place in Test cricket.

When the writer caught up with Llong, the English umpire said, “I am a Bucknor fan and I was paying tribute to him. Howlers have been a part of the game since inception. Indians anyways do not like technology, so I am sure they are ok with this.”

India A now pays tribute!

In one part of the world, at St Lucia, India beat West Indies comprehensively to take a 2-0 lead in the series. In the other part, at Australia, Rahul Dravid asked his India A boys to take a leaf out of the West Indies games as they took on Australia A at Townsville.

However, Manish Pandey’s men got the message wrong and took a leaf out of West Indies’ book to fold up for 55 in the first One-Day game. The 100-over match lasted less than 33 overs!

India A batting-up went on to pay tribute to the West Indian batting line-up and for reasons unknown.

Please note this is a humour article — work of pure fiction

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur,  philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)