Legendary umpire Steve Bucknor concedes two errors during infamous ‘monkeygate' Test match

Cricket fans will never forget Michael Clarke’s final over to win the 2008 SCG Test, but the victory has forever been tainted by two game-changing errors.

Cricket fans will never forget Michael Clarke’s final over at the SCG, but the victory has forever been tainted by two game-changing errors.

The “monkeygate” Test in January 2008 remains one of Australia’s most memorable victories this century, and not necessarily for all the right reasons.

Michael Clarke’s three wickets late on day five have been embedded in Australian sporting folklore, but a series of bitter spats during the match resulted in the Indian squad threatening to return home halfway through the tour.

Legendary cricket umpire Steve Bucknor was right in the thick of it at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and has conceded a pair of errors he made “might have cost India” a precious Test victory against Australia on foreign soil.

Those two critical mistakes undeniably helped the Australians attain their 16th consecutive Test victory, which equalled the all-time record.

Last roll of the dice for Ponting and Australia - it's time for Michael Clarke... #20in2020 pic.twitter.com/ldImz6JbMM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 8, 2020

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On day one, Australia was reeling at 6/134 in Sydney, with all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg at the crease.

After reaching 30, Symonds edged a delivery from paceman Ishant Sharma through to the wicketkeeper — but the Queenslander was granted a life, with Bucknor unmoved at the non-striker’s end.

Symonds went on to reach 162 not out — his second Test century and highest score in international cricket — and Australia posted a commanding 463 for their first innings total.

Bucknor made another error on day five — with his side needing 333 runs to win, Indian great Rahul Dravid was given out caught behind, when in actuality the ball had scrapped his front pad on the way through to the wicketkeeper.

There was no DRS available at the time, so Dravid made his way back to the pavilion, and the rest is history.

Australia celebrates an unforgettable victory.

Speaking to Mid-Day, Bucknor admitted the errors still haunt him to this day.

“I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008. 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,” Bucknor said.

“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.

“You need to know why mistakes are made. You don’t want to make similar mistakes again.

“I am not giving excuses but there are times when the wind is blowing down the pitch and the sound travels with the wind. The commentators hear the nick from the stump mic but the umpires may not be sure. These are things spectators won’t know.”

Before his retirement in 2009, Bucknor umpired 128 Test matches, which was a record before Aleem Dar passed the milestone in December 2019. The Jamaican also umpired five consecutive World Cup finals between 1992 and 2007.

Steve Bucknor during the infamous “monkeygate” Test match.