The Brisbane Finger, Steve Bucknors Confession

The Gabba in Brisbane was buzzing with excitement. During the 2003-04 season, any clash between the India national cricket team and the Australia national cricket team promised extra thrill. It was in one such match that a moment occurred which cricket fans have not forgotten even after two decades. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was batting on zero, when a delivery from Australian pacer Jason Gillespie slipped through his defense. The ball struck Tendulkar’s pad, and immediately, Australian umpire Steve Bucknor raised his finger in appeal.

On the field, the decision was final, but television replays told a different story. The ball had passed well above the stumps. In other words, Sachin was not out. That wrong decision left Indian fans frustrated for a long time. It was more than just a wicket; it was an emotional blow, because every shot from Tendulkar carried hope for millions.

Time has moved on. Cricket now has DRS, ball-tracking technology, and opportunities to review umpire decisions. But in that era, the umpire’s finger was final. Mistakes were possible, but correction was impossible. That is why that morning in Brisbane remains a distinct chapter in cricket history.

In a recent interview, Bucknor himself admitted that the LBW decision against Tendulkar was wrong. He said, “I know giving Sachin out LBW was a mistake. It’s been 22 years now, yet people still talk about that dismissal every day.”

Expressing regret, he added, “After all, humans make mistakes. Why did I give him out that day? Was he really out? No, he wasn’t. I have accepted that it was a wrong decision. Life moves on by acknowledging our mistakes.”

The confession, 22 years later, has brought the old wound back into discussion, albeit from a different perspective. Today, it is not just a controversy but a clear example of human error.

Cricket history is full of runs, centuries, records, and wins and losses. Yet, some moments transcend the scoreboard to remain etched in memory. The LBW at Brisbane is one such episode, where the raising of a finger became more than a decision—it became part of cricket lore, and two decades later, the umpire himself acknowledged the mistake.