Unbeaten on 99 in Test innings
Being stranded on 99 is the most unfortunate way for a batter to end his innings in any particular format. Reaching the three-figure mark is what any player wishes to achieve once stepping out onto the field to bat irrespective of the format. In the longest format of the game, there have been few instances when the players missed out on the century by just a solitary run even without getting dismissed and they appear in this article.
Let’s take a look at the list of the players to remain unbeaten on 99 in the history of Test cricket:
1. Geoffrey Boycott
Former Englishman Geoffrey Boycott was the first batter to suffer the disappointment of being stranded on 99 in Tests. The instance occurred against arch-rivals Australia in the opening Test match of the 1979/80 Ashes series. Boycott scored an unbeaten 99 off 285 which included eight fours in England’s second innings at the WACA in Perth. Bob Willis was the last batter to get dismissed as Boycott missed out on a ton.
2. Steve Waugh
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh remained not out on 99 against old rivals England in the fifth and last Test of the 1995/96 Ashes series. Batting at no. five, Waugh faced 183 deliveries and got 12 fours in Australia’s first innings. Seamer Craig McDermott was the last man to get out as Waugh suffered a sad ending to his knock.
3. Alex Tudor
Former England fast bowler Alex Tudor is the only specialist seamer in this chart. The right-handed player missed out on reaching the magical three-figure mark against New Zealand at Edgbaston in Birmingham in 1999. In the first Test match of the series, the Kiwi set a target of 208 for the home side and Tudor came in to bat at no. 3. He scored 99* off 119 with 21 fours, which included the winning boundary as England sealed the contest by seven wickets.
4. Shaun Pollock
South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock failed to complete his century against Sri Lanka in Centurion in the year 2002. In the second game of the series, skipper Pollock came in to bat at no. 8 and scored 99*off 170 with nine fours and two sixes. Makhaya Ntini was the last player to get dismissed in South Africa’s first innings.
5. Andrew Hall
Another former Proteas all-rounder Andrew Hall is the fifth name on this list. The right-hander faced disappointment against England in the fourth Test match of the 2003 series. Hall came in to bat at no. 8 and struck an unbeaten 99 off just 87 with 15 fours and two sixes in South Africa’s second innings. Dewald Pretorius was the last man to get dismissed as he denied Hall a century.
6. Misbah-ul-Haq
Former Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq racked up an unbeaten 99 against West Indies in the opening Test of the 2017 series in Kingston, Jamaica. Captain Misbah batted at no. five and faced 223 deliveries with five fours and three sixes in Pakistan’s first innings. Pacer Mohammad Abbas got dismissed at the end as Misbah was left stranded on 99.
7. Jonny Bairstow
England’s wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow is the latest entrant in this table. The right-hander was denied his hundred by just a solitary run against rivals Australia in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Ashes series. Bairstow slammed 99* off just 81 with ten fours and four sixes in England’s first innings at Old Trafford in Manchester. James Anderson got out of LBW at the end to deny Bairstow his ton.
