Five of the worst umpiring howlers against Sachin Tendulkar

Over the course of a sporting career spanning almost a quarter of a century, Sachin Tendulkar was a victim to several umpiring howlers. Unfortunately, there was no comprehensive and uniform usage of Decision Review System (DRS) during Tendulkar’s career, and the master faced the brunt of some of the worst umpiring decisions against him.

But Tendulkar never reacted in a wild manner or created a scene. He just walked away, either with a smile, or a hint of disappointment on his face. It just added to the respect that the cricketing world had for Tendulkar.

Many of cricket’s most renowned umpires have including the likes of Steve Bucknor, Simon Taufel, Ian Gould, Aleem Dar have been guilty of handing out a wrong decision against Tendulkar.

There have been more than 30 instances where Tendulkar was given a wrong decision by the umpire, but in this article, let us look at the 5 worst umpiring decisions handed out against him.

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#5 Caught behind off the arm guard?

Tendulkar was given out caught behind when the ball hit his arm guard and nothing else!

This incident took place in the year 2007, when India took on England in a seven-match ODI Series. Tendulkar was at his splendid best in the match, and was batting on 99, when an extremely rough decision was given against him.

Andrew Flintoff bowled an explosive bouncer, the ball brushed Tendulkar’s arm guard and a diving Matt Prior caught it. And, much to the dismay of the Master Blaster, Ian Gould lifted the dreaded finger. The reaction of Tendulkar showed what a great gentleman he was.

He just stood there for as few seconds, in sheer disbelief, then gave a smile, and walked back. Surely, a hundred missed due to an umpiring howler.

#4 How High is it, Mr. Bucknor?

Tendulkar reacts after being given out LBW by Bucknor.

This incident took place at the Gabba in the year 2003-04. Tendulkar was batting on zero, and Gillespie bowled the ball on a good length, that took off, and hit Tendulkar high in his pad. And, as the ball hit the pad, and the Aussies went for the appeal, Tony Grieg exclaimed on air, “No. Too much bounce, too much bounce."

But then much to the dismay of Tendulkar, Steve Bucknor raised the finger, and Greig exclaimed again “ Oh No!. That’s a dreadful decision. There was no way that was going to hit the stumps.”

The replays suggested that the ball would have gone at least 6 inches above the stumps.

And again, Tendulkar for a moment, was shocked, but then, he silently tucked the bat under his arm, and walked off.

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#3 The sound you heard was bat hitting pad, Mr. Dar!

Aleem Dar gave an absolutely dreadful decision against Tendulkar inan ODI series against England

This took place during India’s ODI tour of England in the year 2007. Again it was Flintoff who was the bowler. The series was poised extremely well at 3-3, and the final match of the series was eagerly anticipated by the fans.

Tendulkar was batting on 30, when another dreadful decision was given against him. This time, the umpire found guilty is Aleem Dar.

Flintoff ran in, and bowled an absolute peach of a delivery on off stump. It beat Tendulkar and went into the hands of Matt Prior. There was a thin sound, but that was of the bat hitting pad. In fact, when the ball went past the bat, the bat and the ball were nowhere close.

But then, Dar raised the finger,much to the dismay of Tendulkar and the Indian fans. After the replay of the incident was aired on the giant screen, Dar was booed for the howler he had given the Master.

#2 Pitched outside leg, Mr. Dharmasena

Kumar Dharmasena handed a dreadful decision to Tendulkar in 2009

This was a series when three consecutive wrong decisions were given against Tendulkar. But then, this makes the list, because it was the worst of the three.

This incident took place during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in the year 2009. Tendulkar was wrapped on the pads by a Thilan Thushara delivery and umpire Kumar Dharmasena raised the finger.

Replays suggested that the ball had pitched outside leg stump, but Tendulkar was again at the receiving end of another umpiring howler. What was Tendulkar’s reaction? Again, nothing. Just a smile and he walked back.

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#1 It's too long, Mr. Llong!

Tendulkar was not even spared in his farewell series!

This one takes the top of our list, because it came in Tendulkar’s farewell series, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the year 2013. The master was batting on 10, when he was beaten by a doosra from Shane Shillingford.

And, as the West Indians appealed, Nigel Llong raised the dreaded finger, much to the dismay of Tendulkar, and the thousands that had congregated at the Eden Gardens. Tendulkar, just like he had done during his entire career, walked back without a murmur.

The replays suggested that the ball was going at least 6 inches above the stumps.

He was not even spared in his farewell series!