The
Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes as cricket's governing body, the ICC, drop umpire Steve Bucknor from the third Australia-India test.
Cricket: The ICC - Leadership?
So the ICC have decided to replace umpire Steve Bucknor with New Zealand's Billy Bowden, for the third test. ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, claims the move has been taken to ease the pressure on Steve Bucknor.
Whilst replacing Bucknor does take the immediate pressure off him, it can do nothing for the Jamaican's confidence. The move prevents Steve Bucknor from being able to put things right in the third test. To learn from his mistakes. To demonstrate why he has umpired at the highest level for so long. One hundred and twenty tests to his name.
Yes he made some mistakes. Mistakes that had consequences. But, dropping him creates a loss of confidence throughout the game in Steve Bucknor. Players know that when he needed support, the ICC failed to provide it. The governing body do not trust their senior umpire to deliver under pressure.
Better for the ICC to have come out strongly in support of their umpire. For Bucknor to feel their support. And for the ICC to issue a strong message to the players about their lack of sportsmanship. About the spirit in which they are playing the game.
But to do that would require strong leadership. And may mean upsetting people in power. Disturbing the status quo. Better then, to make Steve Bucknor the scapegoat. That way the fallout will be minimal. And the balance of power remains stable.
