Did you know that the fear of being dismissed in the nineties is so real that it even has a term—Nervous Nineties?
The term "nervous nineties" refers to a batsman getting dismissed while in the 90s, just before reaching the coveted century. It's a phrase that describes the anxiety and pressure a player feels when they’re so close to a milestone but fail to convert it into a hundred.
The player with the highest number of nineties in his career is the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. With 18 nineties to his name, he stands as the unfortunate leader in this unwanted statistic.
Despite being the highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket, the "Little Master" was often caught just short of a century.
Nervous nineties have become a common talking point among cricket fans, with players often feeling the pressure to convert their 90s into centuries.
In this article, we explore some of the top batsmen who have experienced this anxious phase multiple times in their careers.
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List of Batsmen With the Highest Number of Nineties in International Cricket
Here's the list of the batsmen with the most nineties across all formats (Tests, ODIs, T20Is). The list includes:
Rank | Player | Country | Span | Mat | Inns | HS | 100s | 90s |
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | IND | 1989-2013 | 664 | 782 | 248* | 100 | 28 |
2 | Kane Williamson | NZ | 2010-2024 | 361 | 428 | 251 | 45 | 15 |
3 | AB de Villiers | Afr/SA | 2004-2018 | 420 | 484 | 278* | 47 | 14 |
4 | Rahul Dravid | IND | 1996-2012 | 509 | 605 | 270 | 48 | 14 |
5 | Jacques Kallis | Afr/SA | 1995-2014 | 519 | 617 | 224 | 62 | 13 |
6 | Ricky Ponting | AUS | 1995-2012 | 560 | 668 | 257 | 71 | 13 |
7 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | PAK | 1991-2007 | 499 | 551 | 329 | 35 | 12 |
8 | Shikhar Dhawan | IND | 2010-2022 | 269 | 288 | 190 | 24 | 11 |
9 | Matthew Hayden | AUS | 1993-2009 | 273 | 348 | 380 | 40 | 11 |
10 | Nathan Astle | NZ | 1995-2007 | 308 | 358 | 222 | 27 | 11 |
11 | Herschelle Gibbs | SA | 1996-2010 | 361 | 417 | 228 | 35 | 11 |
12 | Virender Sehwag | IND | 1999-2013 | 374 | 443 | 319 | 38 | 11 |
13 | Michael Clarke | AUS | 2003-2015 | 394 | 449 | 329* | 36 | 11 |
14 | Aravinda de Silva | SL | 1984-2003 | 401 | 455 | 267 | 31 | 11 |
15 | MS Dhoni | IND | 2004-2019 | 538 | 526 | 224 | 16 | 11 |
16 | Steve Waugh | AUS | 1985-2004 | 493 | 548 | 200 | 35 | 11 |
17 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | WI | 1994-2015 | 454 | 553 | 203* | 41 | 11 |
18 | Virat Kohli | IND | 2008-2024 | 539 | 603 | 254* | 81 | 11 |
19 | Mahela Jayawardene | SL | 1997-2015 | 652 | 725 | 374 | 54 | 11 |
20 | Graham Flower | ZIM | 1992-2010 | 288 | 337 | 201* | 12 | 10 |
21 | Richie Richardson | WI | 1983-1996 | 310 | 363 | 194 | 21 | 10 |
22 | Stephen Fleming | NZ | 1994-2008 | 396 | 463 | 274* | 17 | 10 |
23 | Sourav Ganguly | IND | 1992-2008 | 424 | 488 | 239 | 38 | 10 |
24 | Brian Lara | WI | 1990-2007 | 430 | 521 | 400* | 53 | 10 |
25 | Michael Slater | AUS | 1993-2001 | 116 | 173 | 219 | 14 | 9 |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Among the top cricketers with the most nervous nineties across all formats, Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with an impressive 28 occasions where he fell short of a century while in the nineties.
The legendary Indian batsman, with his unparalleled career spanning from 1989 to 2013, has accumulated a staggering 34,357 runs in 664 matches, including Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Following him is Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, who has faced the heartbreak of being dismissed in the nineties 15 times. Williamson, known for his consistency, has played 361 matches, amassing 18,359 runs with an average of 48.18.
His temperament and calm approach make him one of the most dependable batsmen in modern-day cricket.
Next, AB de Villiers, the South African maverick, appears with 14 nervous nineties. The versatile batsman, who played 420 matches and scored 20,014 runs, had a knack for getting close to centuries but often fell just short. His explosive and dynamic batting style earned him the reputation of being one of the most innovative players in world cricket.
Rahul Dravid, the “Wall” of Indian cricket, occupies the fourth spot with 14 instances of being dismissed in the nineties. With 24,208 runs in 509 matches, Dravid's technique and temperament made him a pillar of Indian cricket for many years, though the nineties often eluded him.
Lastly, Jacques Kallis, the legendary South African all-rounder, had 13 nineties in his 519-match career. Kallis, who scored 25,534 runs, was equally adept with the ball, and his consistent performance across formats earned him a place in cricketing history.
These players' careers are remembered for their consistency and the occasional frustration of falling just short of a century.
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