GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has described retiring umpire Steve Bucknor as an asset to the game and says he hopes the experienced Jamaican is utilised by the West Indies Cricket Board in developing a new cadre of officials.
Bucknor quit Test cricket following the Newlands Test between South Africa and Australia which finished Sunday and will stand in his two final One-Day Internationals this weekend in Barbados when West Indies meet England in a doubleheader at Kensington Oval.
“We all have to go at sometime and now it is Steve’s time but I hope he continues to work within cricket,” said Lloyd, also chairman of the International Cricket Council’s Cricket Committee.
“It will be a loss to the game if he doesn’t continue in some capacity with cricket and I hope that the West Indies Cricket Board will look to use his knowledge and experience when it comes to training and coaching new umpires.”
Bucknor will quit as cricket’s most decorated umpire. He has stood in a record 128 Tests and has also officiated a record five consecutive World Cup finals. When he stands in the two matches in Barbados this weekend, he will finish with 181 ODIs to his credit.
Only South Africa’s Rudi Koertzen has stood in more ODIs with 195 matches already under his belt.
Lloyd, a former ICC match referee, hailed Bucknor as a person of character and commitment and said he has been a great product of the Caribbean region.
“I’ve known Steve since his inception as an ICC umpire and have worked with him as an ICC match referee and things that comes to mind about him are his honesty and hard-working attitude. He takes his job very seriously and is a huge credit to cricket and the game,” Lloyd said.
“I wish him well for the next part of his career – he is a great Jamaican and a great West Indian.”
