7 Batsmen Who Remained Not Out At 99 In Test Cricket: In the annals of cricket, there have been moments when batsmen have come heartbreakingly close to making a century but ended their innings stranded at 99 not out. Here is a list of players who have found themselves in this unique and bittersweet situation.
7 Batsmen Who Remained Not Out At 99 In Test Cricket:
Geoffrey Boycott’s Staunch Stand Against Australia (1979)
In 1979, England’s Geoffrey Boycott found himself in this predicament against Australia. He held steady at one end, even as wickets tumbled around him. Tragically, he was left on 99 as his team’s last batsman, Bob Willis, was dismissed by Geoff Dymock, leaving Boycott 99 not out.
Steve Waugh’s Crucial Contribution in Ashes Victory (1995)
The second instance involves Steve Waugh in the 1995 Ashes Test at Perth. Battling on, Waugh pushed his score to 99 when disaster struck, and the final Australian batsman, Craig McDermott, was run out. Unlike Boycott’s innings, Waugh’s 99 not out was instrumental in a winning cause, helping Australia clinch the Ashes series.
Alex Tudor’s Near-Century in England’s Triumph (1999)
The third case concerns England’s Alex Tudor in 1999 against New Zealand. As England chased a target of 208, Tudor found himself in the cruel situation of being on 95 with only 2 runs required for victory. He smashed a four to secure the win but was left stranded on 99.
Shaun Pollock’s Captain’s Knock Against Sri Lanka (2002)
Next, we look at South Africa’s Shaun Pollock in 2002 against Sri Lanka. The captain found himself stranded on 99 after a gutsy partnership with Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini. His 99 not out played a pivotal role in a whitewash of Sri Lanka in the home Test series.
Andrew Hall’s Quickfire Ninety-Nine Against England (2003)
In 2003, yet another South African, Andrew Hall, found himself in the same situation against England. Coming in to bat at no.8, Hall managed to rack up a quickfire 99 in just 87 balls before his partner, Dewald Pretorius, was dismissed.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s Historic Stranding in Kingston (2017)
Fast forward to 2017, and it was Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq’s turn to join this exclusive club. Batting against the West Indies, Misbah found himself stranded on 99, becoming the first Asian batsman to join this list.
Jonny Bairstow’s Recent Brush with Century in Ashes (2023)
Most recently, during the fourth Ashes Test of 2023, England’s Jonny Bairstow found himself stranded on 99 against Australia. He put on a spirited show but, unfortunately, fell just short of a well-deserved century.
Getting stranded on 99 is a rare and agonizing moment for any cricketer. Yet, these instances remind us of the thrill and unpredictability of the game, where every run counts and anything can happen. The tales of these players are testaments to the drama and excitement inherent in the sport of cricket.
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