By a whisker
Players who came close to major landmarks only to fall agonisingly short
Steven Lynch
16-May-2011
Martin Crowe: his 299 shattered New Zealand's dreams of having a triple-centurion in their ranks • Adrian Murrell/Getty Images
Hanif Mohammad, 499
Pakistan's first great batsman, Hanif came agonisingly close to the first quintuple-century in first-class cricket when, batting for Karachi against Bahawalpur in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy semi-final in January 1959, he motored past Don Bradman's previous record score of 452. With the close of the third day (and a probable declaration) fast approaching, Hanif was anxious to reach 500 - and, with the scoreboard showing him on 496, he tried an ambitious run to keep the strike and was run out. It was only when he got back to the dressing room that he discovered the board was wrong, and that he had been out for 499. In a sad postscript to the story, Abdul Aziz - Karachi's wicketkeeper and Hanif's batting partner when he was out - was hit on the chest while batting in the next match (the final) and died on his way to hospital, where it was discovered he had had a heart condition.
Pakistan's first great batsman, Hanif came agonisingly close to the first quintuple-century in first-class cricket when, batting for Karachi against Bahawalpur in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy semi-final in January 1959, he motored past Don Bradman's previous record score of 452. With the close of the third day (and a probable declaration) fast approaching, Hanif was anxious to reach 500 - and, with the scoreboard showing him on 496, he tried an ambitious run to keep the strike and was run out. It was only when he got back to the dressing room that he discovered the board was wrong, and that he had been out for 499. In a sad postscript to the story, Abdul Aziz - Karachi's wicketkeeper and Hanif's batting partner when he was out - was hit on the chest while batting in the next match (the final) and died on his way to hospital, where it was discovered he had had a heart condition.
Naved Latif, 394
There have been nine quadruple-centuries in first-class cricket - plus Brian Lara's 501 not out - but the nearest anyone has got to 400 without quite getting there was Naved Latif's 394 for Sargodha against Gujranwala in a domestic match in Pakistan in 2000-01. It did not signal a profitable international career: Naved played only one Test, and a handful of ODIs, in one of which he made 113 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.
There have been nine quadruple-centuries in first-class cricket - plus Brian Lara's 501 not out - but the nearest anyone has got to 400 without quite getting there was Naved Latif's 394 for Sargodha against Gujranwala in a domestic match in Pakistan in 2000-01. It did not signal a profitable international career: Naved played only one Test, and a handful of ODIs, in one of which he made 113 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.
Mahela Jayawardene, 374
Jayawardene had a great chance to claim the individual Test record when he zipped past 300 during his world-record partnership of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka against South Africa at the SSC in Colombo in 2006. After Sangakkara was out for 287, the focus shifted firmly to Jayawardene, who soon passed Sanath Jayasuriya's previous Sri Lankan Test record of 340. Wisden reported: "The crowd started to swell with spectators eager to see Brian Lara's 400 knocked off. But 26 runs short, Jayawardene lingered on his crease to a devilish delivery from Nel that cut in and scuttled along the ground to knock back his off stump, a dismissal that plunged a small and partisan crowd into anticlimactic depression."
Jayawardene had a great chance to claim the individual Test record when he zipped past 300 during his world-record partnership of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka against South Africa at the SSC in Colombo in 2006. After Sangakkara was out for 287, the focus shifted firmly to Jayawardene, who soon passed Sanath Jayasuriya's previous Sri Lankan Test record of 340. Wisden reported: "The crowd started to swell with spectators eager to see Brian Lara's 400 knocked off. But 26 runs short, Jayawardene lingered on his crease to a devilish delivery from Nel that cut in and scuttled along the ground to knock back his off stump, a dismissal that plunged a small and partisan crowd into anticlimactic depression."
Don Bradman, 299
In the fourth Test against South Africa in Adelaide in 1931-32, Bradman was approaching his triple-century, but was fast running out of partners: in an attempt to keep the strike he tried a risky second run, and Australia's No. 11, Hugh "Pud" Thurlow - a fastish bowler from Queensland - was run out. The Don was left stranded on 299 not out: he sportingly took the blame (the not-out helped him average 201.50 in the five-match series), but - coincidentally or not - Thurlow never played another Test.
In the fourth Test against South Africa in Adelaide in 1931-32, Bradman was approaching his triple-century, but was fast running out of partners: in an attempt to keep the strike he tried a risky second run, and Australia's No. 11, Hugh "Pud" Thurlow - a fastish bowler from Queensland - was run out. The Don was left stranded on 299 not out: he sportingly took the blame (the not-out helped him average 201.50 in the five-match series), but - coincidentally or not - Thurlow never played another Test.
Martin Crowe, 299
In Wellington in 1990-91, Crowe had shared what was then a world-record Test partnership of 467 with Andrew Jones, and was closing in on New Zealand's first Test triple-century. But, just one short, he nibbled a catch to the wicketkeeper off the gentle bowling of Arjuna Ranatunga. Crowe wrote: "Out for 299 - tell me it's not true! Tears streamed down my face as I realised that this opportunity might never happen again." It didn't: Crowe never did make a Test triple-century, and nor has any other New Zealander yet.
In Wellington in 1990-91, Crowe had shared what was then a world-record Test partnership of 467 with Andrew Jones, and was closing in on New Zealand's first Test triple-century. But, just one short, he nibbled a catch to the wicketkeeper off the gentle bowling of Arjuna Ranatunga. Crowe wrote: "Out for 299 - tell me it's not true! Tears streamed down my face as I realised that this opportunity might never happen again." It didn't: Crowe never did make a Test triple-century, and nor has any other New Zealander yet.
Andy Flower, 199
Seven men have been out for 199 in a Test - all of them since 1984 - but only one has been stranded one short of a double-century. Flower, now England's coach, was that unlucky man, during a magnificent rearguard for Zimbabwe against South Africa in Harare in September 2001, Flower almost single-handedly ensured that the visitors would at least have to bat again to secure victory after scoring 600 and forcing Zimbabwe to follow on. Last man Douglas Hondo survived almost an hour, helping add 47 as Flower inched towards the landmark - but finally Hondo was trapped lbw for 6. Spare a thought for Flower, who had also made 142 in the first innings.
Seven men have been out for 199 in a Test - all of them since 1984 - but only one has been stranded one short of a double-century. Flower, now England's coach, was that unlucky man, during a magnificent rearguard for Zimbabwe against South Africa in Harare in September 2001, Flower almost single-handedly ensured that the visitors would at least have to bat again to secure victory after scoring 600 and forcing Zimbabwe to follow on. Last man Douglas Hondo survived almost an hour, helping add 47 as Flower inched towards the landmark - but finally Hondo was trapped lbw for 6. Spare a thought for Flower, who had also made 142 in the first innings.
Saeed Anwar, 194
Pakistan's wristy left-hander Anwar might have preceded Sachin Tendulkar as the first double-centurion in one-day internationals: against India in the Pepsi Cup in Chennai in May 1997, Anwar had glided to 194 before he was caught off a top-edged sweep in the 47th over. His five sixes included three in a row off Anil Kumble. Anwar's effort was all the more remarkable as he was suffering from heat exhaustion and had been forced to use a runner for most of his innings (Shahid Afridi was the hard-worked deputy).
Pakistan's wristy left-hander Anwar might have preceded Sachin Tendulkar as the first double-centurion in one-day internationals: against India in the Pepsi Cup in Chennai in May 1997, Anwar had glided to 194 before he was caught off a top-edged sweep in the 47th over. His five sixes included three in a row off Anil Kumble. Anwar's effort was all the more remarkable as he was suffering from heat exhaustion and had been forced to use a runner for most of his innings (Shahid Afridi was the hard-worked deputy).
Shane Watson, 185 not out
When Bangladesh made a respectable 229 in a one-day international against Australia in Mirpur in April, most people expected a decent fight as Australia's batsmen countered the home spinners. But it didn't quite work out like that: Watson clobbered three fours in the first over... and just kept going. His hundred came up from only 69 balls, and by the time the target was overhauled he had muscled 185 from 96 deliveries, with 15 sixes and 15 fours. The scary thing, though - and the near-miss aspect - was that Australia had used up little more than half their overs (26 out of 50) in completing victory. What might Watson have done if the Aussies had batted first?
When Bangladesh made a respectable 229 in a one-day international against Australia in Mirpur in April, most people expected a decent fight as Australia's batsmen countered the home spinners. But it didn't quite work out like that: Watson clobbered three fours in the first over... and just kept going. His hundred came up from only 69 balls, and by the time the target was overhauled he had muscled 185 from 96 deliveries, with 15 sixes and 15 fours. The scary thing, though - and the near-miss aspect - was that Australia had used up little more than half their overs (26 out of 50) in completing victory. What might Watson have done if the Aussies had batted first?
Sachin Tendulkar, 99 x 3
The current ballyhoo over just when the great Tendulkar will make his 100th international hundred could have been all done and dusted by now - if he hadn't been dismissed 17 times in the nineties in ODIs alone. Six of those came in 2007, and three of them were 99s - against South Africa in Belfast (run out, too!), England in Bristol and Pakistan in Mohali.
The current ballyhoo over just when the great Tendulkar will make his 100th international hundred could have been all done and dusted by now - if he hadn't been dismissed 17 times in the nineties in ODIs alone. Six of those came in 2007, and three of them were 99s - against South Africa in Belfast (run out, too!), England in Bristol and Pakistan in Mohali.
Dipak Patel, run out 99
Kenyan-born Patel moved from Worcestershire to New Zealand to further his desire to play Test cricket. He eventually won 37 caps, and against England in Christchurch in 1991-92, looked like he would record his maiden Test hundred when, on 97, he pushed a ball into the outfield, past Derek Pringle, not renowned as one of England's sprightlier fielders. But as Wisden reported, "Patel went for a third run to Pringle, running back towards long-on, and missed out on his maiden Test century by a yard." New Zealand, who were battling to avoid the follow-on at the time, went on to lose by an innings… and the unlucky Patel never did make a Test century.
Kenyan-born Patel moved from Worcestershire to New Zealand to further his desire to play Test cricket. He eventually won 37 caps, and against England in Christchurch in 1991-92, looked like he would record his maiden Test hundred when, on 97, he pushed a ball into the outfield, past Derek Pringle, not renowned as one of England's sprightlier fielders. But as Wisden reported, "Patel went for a third run to Pringle, running back towards long-on, and missed out on his maiden Test century by a yard." New Zealand, who were battling to avoid the follow-on at the time, went on to lose by an innings… and the unlucky Patel never did make a Test century.
99 on debut
Three men have suffered the disappointment of being out for 99 in their first Test match. Australia's Arthur Chipperfield was the first, against England at Trent Bridge in 1934: he went to lunch on the second day with 99 not out, but was out third ball afterwards. Robert Christiani made 99 on debut for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48 (he apparently cried in the dressing room), and Asim Kamal fell one short for Pakistan against South Africa in Lahore in 2003-04. Chipperfield and Christiani later reached three figures in Tests - but Asim never did.
Three men have suffered the disappointment of being out for 99 in their first Test match. Australia's Arthur Chipperfield was the first, against England at Trent Bridge in 1934: he went to lunch on the second day with 99 not out, but was out third ball afterwards. Robert Christiani made 99 on debut for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48 (he apparently cried in the dressing room), and Asim Kamal fell one short for Pakistan against South Africa in Lahore in 2003-04. Chipperfield and Christiani later reached three figures in Tests - but Asim never did.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket 2011.