Nervous 90s
The "nervous 90s" in cricket is a term used to describe the challenging phase a batsman goes through when they are in the 90s (i.e., their score is between 90 and 99). It's a critical moment in a batsman's innings as they approach the milestone of a century.
Here are some interesting cases of "nervous 90s" in cricket history:
1. Don Bradman's Dismissal for 99 (1932)
- Sir Don Bradman, often considered the greatest batsman in cricket history, experienced an unusual case of getting out for 99 in a Test match against South Africa in 1932. This remains one of the most famous instances of a batsman falling just short of a century.
2. Sachin Tendulkar's 99 in Cape Town (2011)
- Sachin Tendulkar, the "Little Master" from India, faced the "nervous 90s" on numerous occasions throughout his career. One notable instance was during the Test series against South Africa in Cape Town in 2011 when he was dismissed for 99.
3. Mike Atherton's Century after Five Years (1997)
- Former England captain Mike Atherton endured a long wait for his next Test century after his debut century in 1990. During this period, he had multiple "nervous 90s" moments. Finally, in 1997, he scored a century against South Africa, ending the five-year drought.
4. Inzamam-ul-Haq's Unusual Dismissal (2004)
- Inzamam-ul-Haq, the stylish Pakistani batsman, faced a unique dismissal in the "nervous 90s." During a Test match against England in 2004, he was run out for 99 after colliding with the bowler and failing to ground his bat.
Scoring in the 90s in Test cricket is a challenging and nerve-wracking experience for batsmen. However, there have been instances when batsmen have not only crossed the 100-run mark but have done so with scores like 199 and 299, narrowly missing out on unique milestones. Here are some memorable cases of batsmen falling in the "nervous 90s" in Test cricket with scores of 199 and 299:
1. Matthew Hayden's 199 (2003)
- Australian opener Matthew Hayden was on the verge of a historic double century during a Test match against India in Chennai in 2003. However, he fell just one run short when he was dismissed for 199. His innings played a crucial role in Australia's victory.
2. Kane Williamson's 199 (2020)
- New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had a chance to join the elite club of Test batsmen with a double century when he reached 199 against Pakistan in December 2020. Unfortunately, he was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the day, ending a remarkable innings.
3. Martin Crowe's 299 (1991)
- In one of the most heart-wrenching cases of missing out on a triple century, New Zealand's Martin Crowe was dismissed for 299 against Sri Lanka in 1991. His innings remains one of the highest scores in Test cricket without reaching 300.
4. Saeed Anwar's 199 (2000)
- Pakistan's stylish left-handed opener Saeed Anwar fell agonizingly short of a double century when he was dismissed for 199 against India in Kolkata in 2000. His innings was a masterclass in batting.
5. Inzamam-ul-Haq's 199 (2002)
- Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq reached 199 in a Test match against New Zealand in Lahore in 2002. He played a vital role in Pakistan's innings with a dominant display before being dismissed just one run short of 200.
These instances of batsmen falling in the "nervous 90s" with scores of 199 and 299 highlight the fine line between achieving historic milestones and falling just short. They also demonstrate the mental fortitude required to perform under immense pressure in Test cricket.
These "nervous 90s" moments not only add drama to the game but also reveal the mental and emotional challenges that batsmen face as they approach the milestone of a century. Each of these cases is a part of cricketing folklore and highlights the pressure and excitement associated with batting in this phase of an innings.
