List of Batsmen Dismissed Most Number of Times in Nervous Nineties; Check Here

List of Batsmen with Most Nervous Nineties:  Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most dismissals in the nervous nineties, with 28 instances across all formats, including 10 in tests and 18 in ODIs. This statistic underscores both his batting consistency and the psychological challenges faced by players nearing the century mark, often leading to missed opportunities.

Nov 29, 2024, 13:52 IST
Top Batsmen Who've Been Dismissed the Most in the Nervous Nineties
Top Batsmen Who've Been Dismissed the Most in the Nervous Nineties

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.

What's Next| IPL 2025 Mega Auction: List of Unsold Players; Check Name Here

IPL 2025 Auction: Which Team Used Most RTM for Players and How RTM Card Works?

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.

Also Read| RCB Team 2025 Players List, Price: Check Complete Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad and Overview

IPL 2025: Country-wise Players List with Total Amount Spent in Mega Auction

Kriti Barua
Kriti Barua

Executive Content Writer

Kriti Barua is a professional content writer who has four years of experience in creating engaging and informative articles for various industries. She started her career as a creative writer intern at Wordloom Ventures and quickly developed a passion for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

Currently working as a content writer for the GK section of Jagran New Media, she continues to hone her skills in writing and strives to deliver high-quality content that educates and entertains readers.
... Read More

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India, World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App.

Trending

Latest Education News