IndiaPost.com - To err is human, to forgive divine: Bucknor

MONTEGO BAY: Dumped by the ICC from the India-Australia Test series following widespread criticism of his blunders in the Sydney Test, West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor shot back saying he was punished for making just two wrong decisions.

A dejected Bucknor said he was disappointed by the turn of events and called it a sad day for umpires. Bucknor, however, said he respected ICC's authority in the matter. "I am disappointed that I am not continuing the tour between Australia and India, in Australia.

But I respect ICC's authority in the matter," the veteran of 120 Tests said in a statement. "To err is human, to forgive divine, as the old saying goes," Bucknor said. Bucknor, who was sacked by ICC from officiating in the Perth Test after India complained against his blunders which cost them the Sydney Test, said he faced the flak for making just two wrong decisions.

"However, I consider it a sad day to see umpires sidelined after making only two wrong decisions out of a record of 35 appeals," he said. The 61-year-old Bucknor, the most experienced umpire in the Elite Panel, quietly returned to his home managing to evade the press.

Andrew Symonds was out caught behind when he was on 30 but the appeal was turned down by Bucknor and he went on to revive the Australian innings with a blistering 162 not out. Later Symonds' admission that he was out turned on the ire of the visitors on Bucknor, who has given several controversial decisions against India in the past.

The caught behind dismissal of Rahul Dravid on the last day when India was battling to save the Test made matters worse. ICC replaced Bucknor by New Zealand's Billy Bowden after the Indian team complained and commentators and former players criticized his decisions.