Five-star Bucknor gets nod

Steve Bucknor says a fifth World Cup final appearance on home soil is a "dream come true"

Steve Bucknor will umpire the World Cup final for an unprecedented fifth time when Australia meet Sri Lanka in Barbados on Saturday.

The West Indian, who officiated in the previous four finals, will stand on home turf with Pakistan’s Aleem Dar at the Kensington Oval.

“It is a dream come true,” said Bucknor. “I was happy knowing I was umpiring in a World Cup in the Caribbean and now being asked to stand in the final again makes it even more special.

“Just because the final is taking place here (in the Caribbean) does not mean it is any extra pressure for me than, say, my third or fourth finals, for example. Each game has its pressures and you have to deal with that.

"As for preparations, it will be business as usual. I will go for a jog around the savannah to get myself ready, as I always do when I am here in Barbados.”

Dar, who is standing in his first final, said: “I have always worked well together with Steve. He is a great umpire and we have a good understanding, so that should be a great help to me on Saturday.

“There is no doubt that it is a big match, the biggest, but I will look to treat it as I would any other match and just look to do my job the best I can.”

Rudi Koertzen, from South Africa, and New Zealander Brent Bowden will act as third and fourth umpires respectively, while former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe has been appointed match referee.

The only umpires who come close to matching Bucknor’s record are Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird and David Shepherd, both of whom stood in three finals.