Two days ahead of becoming the world’s first umpire to stand in 100 Tests, Steve Bucknor today said that he was more focussed on his job in the coming indo-PAK engagement here than his personal landmark.Bucknor, who would reach the milestone when he steps into the middle at the Eden Gardens to officiate in the second Test beginning March 16, said he would not let the occasion get into his head as he feared that his umpiring might then suffer.He will also be the first ever ‘century’ maker in Test umpiring and will officiate along side Darrell Hair at the Eden.‘‘Its good to be there for 16 years. I am thankful to god. Its a good feeling. But I am not letting that get into my head. My primary concern now is the Eden Test,” said Bucknor, who had made his Test umpiring debut in the India-West Indies match at Kingston, Jamaica in April 1989.Asked whether the occasion would make him emotional when he stands in the 22 yards on March 16, the West Indian said “I may get emotional, but only momentarily. Once the match starts, I will be only too focuswed on the happenings in the middle.”Bucknor, who has officiated in four World Cup finals, said that he planned to carry on at the top level till the West Indies World Cup in 2007. “Then I will decide whether I’ll retire.”Bucknor said that technology has been a great help to umpires in recent times.‘‘Whenever I make a touch decision, I can now go back and check on television whether I have done the right thing. I have twice apologises to players who have been the victims of wrong decisions on my part,” he said.
