Six Unlucky Test Cricketers Who Missed a Century, Finishing on 99 Not Out
Published 4 hours ago | By Nouman Shakeel
For any batsman, remaining unbeaten on 99 runs in Test cricket is a moment where the joy of a century remains incomplete, despite a magnificent individual performance. In the history of the game, only six batsmen have remained at the crease on 99 runs until their team's final wicket fell, missing out on a three-figure score by just a single run.
This unique situation arises when a batsman holds his ground, but the team's innings comes to an end as soon as his partner at the other end loses their wicket.
Batsmen who missed out on a century while on 99 runs:
This list includes South Africa's Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock, Australia's Steve Waugh, Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq, and England's Geoffrey Boycott and Jonny Bairstow.
| Batsman | Opponent | Date | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Hall | England | 21 August 2003 | Headingley | 99* |
| Shaun Pollock | Sri Lanka | 15 November 2002 | SuperSport Park | 99* |
| Steve Waugh | England | 3 February 1995 | WACA Ground | 99* |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | West Indies | 21 April 2017 | Sabina Park | 99* |
| Geoffrey Boycott | Australia | 14 December 1979 | WACA Ground | 99* |
| Jonny Bairstow | Australia | 19 July 2023 | Manchester | 99* |
Which players have faced this misfortune?
Andrew Hall scored 99 runs during South Africa's first innings against England in the Headingley Test on August 21, 2003. South Africa's innings ended at 365 runs, and Hall remained not out, unable to complete his century.
Shaun Pollock experienced this on November 15, 2002, during the SuperSport Park Test against Sri Lanka. South Africa scored 448 runs in the first innings, but Pollock remained unbeaten on 99 when the final wicket fell.
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh also faced the same situation during the WACA Ground Test against England on February 3, 1995. Australia's first innings concluded at 402 runs, and Waugh missed out on a century by just one run.
Misbah-ul-Haq also joins this unique list.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq played an unbeaten innings of 99 runs against the West Indies in the Sabina Park Test on April 21, 2017. Pakistan's first innings ended at 407 runs, and Misbah, too, did not get the opportunity to complete his century.
England's Geoffrey Boycott experienced this on December 14, 1979, against Australia at the WACA Ground. England's innings folded at 215 runs, and Boycott remained not out on 99.
The most recent name on this list is Jonny Bairstow, who scored 99 runs against Australia in the Manchester Ashes Test on July 19, 2023. England's first innings concluded at 592 runs, with Bairstow remaining unbeaten on 99 as the final wicket fell.
These six instances in Test cricket are unique in that the batsmen were just one run shy of a century and had not lost their wickets; however, their scores remained at 99 not out because the team's last wicket fell.
