The BCCI is learnt to have already lodged a strong protest through its vice-president Rajiv Shukla and is trying to get Bucknor removed from the third Test, citing a recent precedent in Sri Lanka where umpire Rudi Keortzen was removed as umpire from the next match after he wrongly ruled Kumar Sangakaara out — Sri Lanka subsequently lost the match. Keortzen remained on the ICC posting list and came to India for the Kolkata Test where he made another blunder, giving Rahul Dravid out caught behind though the batsman hadn’t nicked the ball.

Even match referee Mike Procter is said to be unhappy with the umpiring by Bucknor and Benson in this match. They made a combined contribution to a phenomenal 12 bad decisions in the match (see box) —— a record that overshadowed some classical innings with the bat and ball.

“I can only say that I am disappointed. I think a draw would have been a fair result but everybody could see what happened. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to make further comment” Kumble said.

“It’s tough when you’ve played all forms of cricket over the last 25 years and end up on the losing side like this, it does affect you. You try and take it sportingly, but it’s very difficult and it hurts when you lose like this and then when you’ve had a great chance to win.”

From the dressing room, a few unmentionables were mouthed in disgust as the horror on field was revisited on the laptop of team analyst Dhanjaya.

... contd.