Being dismissed on 199 in Test cricket is one of the rarest and most heartbreaking misses in the game. A double century is a feat every batter looks forward to, and falling just one run short makes it hard to forget.
Test cricket has seen numerous double hundreds, but 199 is an unwanted feat achieved only 14 times in the longest format of the game. Such instances are registered in history books and remembered for a long tie.
Let’s see 14 unlucky batters dismissed on 199 in cricket history:
1. Mudassar Nazar vs India, 1984:
Former Pakistani batter, Mudassar Nazar, registered his name in the history books during the second Test against India at Faisalabad in October 1984. The right-hander batter played a knock of 199 runs, becoming the first batter in Test history to be dismissed on that score.
Batting for more than nine hours, Nazar faced 408 balls and hit 24 boundaries. His 250-run partnership with Qasim Umar, who went on to score a double century, helped the team to a massive first-innings total of 674/6. Eventually, Nazar fell short of a double century, caught by Syed Kirmani off Maninder Singh Yadav. The match eventually ended in a draw.
2. Mohammad Azharuddin vs Sri Lanka, 1986:
India’s Mohammad Azharuddin became the first Indian batter to be dismissed on 199 in Test cricket against Sri Lanka in 1986. The knock came in the opening Test at Kanpur, with Azharuddin playing his 16th game. His innings played a big role in India’s reply after Sri Lanka had posted their then-highest score against the hosts.
Azhar added 272 runs with skipper Kapil Dev, who scored 165, for the sixth wicket, scoring at more than five runs an over. However, Azhar fell one run short of a maiden double century, as he was trapped leg-before by Ratnayeke after occupying the crease for 505 minutes. The match ended in a draw.
3. Matthew Elliott vs England, 1997:
Former Australian batter Matthew Elliott was the third batter to be dismissed on 199. The left-hander achieved the unwanted feat against England in the 1997 Ashes Test at Leeds. After England were bowled out for just 172 in their first innings, Australia scored 501 runs. Elliott played the anchor role and looked to smash his maiden double century, but fell short when Darren Gough bowled him for 199.
His innings laced with 26 fours and three sixes, lasted 351 balls. Despite the personal disappointment, Elliott helped Australia win the game by an innings and 61 runs as England were bundled for 268 in their second innings. Notably, Elliott became the first Australian batter to be dismissed on the score of 199.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya vs India, 1997:
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya‘s knock of 199 against India in Colombo in 1997 is one of the most memorable near-misses in Test cricket. The knock came in the second innings of the final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club, and had 21 fours and two sixes in just 226 deliveries. While he looked set for a double hundred, Abey Kuruvilla shattered his stumps when he was one run short of the milestone.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka had scored 332, thanks to Aravinda de Silva’s 146. India bounced back strongly with centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (139) and Sourav Ganguly (147), posting 375 to take a lead of 43 runs. Jayasuriya’s 199 took Sri Lanka to 415/7 declared, giving India a target of 373. The visitors finished at 281/5, and the game ended in a draw.
5. Steve Waugh vs West Indies, 1999:
Australia’s most successful skipper, Steve Waugh, was just one run away from his double ton when he was dismissed for 199 against the West Indies in Bridgetown during the 1999 series. His knock spanned across 376 balls, including 20 fours and a six.
After Australia gained a first-innings lead, the West Indies bowlers ran through the opposition to set up a chase of 308. Brian Lara’s unbeaten 153 carried them home in a famous one-wicket win. Notably, this was Waugh’s 19th Test century out of the 32 he scored.
6. Younis Khan vs India, 2006:
One of Pakistan’s classical batters, Younis Khan, suffered a heartbreaking moment in Lahore during the 2006 Test series against India. The former star scored 199 off 336 deliveries with 26 boundaries. However, he was runout with just one run short of a memorable double century.
The mix-up occurred when Anil Kumble bowled full on the pads, and Younis drove straight to Harbhajan Singh at mid-off. While he was looking for a quick single, his partner Shahid Afridi did not respond and Harbhajan’s direct hit at the stumps caught Younis well short despite a dive. Pakistan eventually declared at 477/5, and the match ended in a draw. Notably, Younis remains the only batsman in Test history to be run out on 199.
7. Ian Bell vs South Africa, 2008:
Former England batter Ian Bell scored 199 against South Africa at the iconic Lord’s in 2008. Facing a bowling attack of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, and Morne Morkel, Bell hammered 20 fours and a six in his 336-ball innings. He shared a massive 286-run stand with Kevin Pietersen, who made 152, taking England to 593/8 declared.
Bell was eventually caught and bowled by Paul Harris when he was just one run short of a double century, becoming the first Englishman to be dismissed on 199 in Tests. Though the match ended in a draw, Bell’s innings earned him a spot in the iconic honours board.
8. Steve Smith vs West Indies, 2015:
Australian batter Steve Smith scored 199 against the West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston, in 2015. The right-hander faced 361 balls and batted for over eight hours. While he looked set for a double century, he fell short after being trapped LBW by an inswinging yorker from Jerome Taylor.
This made him only the third Australian, after Steve Waugh and Matthew Elliott, to be dismissed on 199. He was handed the Player of the Match award for his heroics. The Aussies eventually clinched a clinical victory and a 2-0 series win.
9 KL Rahul vs England, 2016:
Indian batter KL Rahul‘s highest Test score came against England in Chennai in 2016, when he shockingly fell one short of a maiden double century. The stylish opener scored a brilliant 199 off 311 balls, laced with 16 fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.
His innings played an important role in India’s win. He shared a 152-run opening stand with Parthiv Patel and later added 161 with Karun Nair, who went on to score a triple century. Rahul’s knock helped India reply to England’s 477, reducing the deficit and putting the visitors under pressure.
10. Dean Elgar vs Bangladesh, 2017:
In the 2017 Test against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom, Dean Elgar fell one run short of a maiden double century. The opener’s innings, which spanned 388 balls, was laced with 15 fours and three sixes. His innings helped South Africa post a first-innings total of 496/3 declared.
Elgar attempted a pull shot off Mustafizur Rahman but mistimed it, handing a simple catch to Mominul Haque at midwicket. With this, Elgar became the first South African to be dismissed on 199 in Test cricket. The Proteas declared their second innings at 247/7 before bowling Bangladesh out for 320 and 90, securing a clinical 333-run victory.
11. Faf du Plessis vs Sri Lanka, 2020:
Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis scored his career-best 199 against Sri Lanka in Centurion in 2020. du Plessis hammered 24 boundaries in his 276-ball stay, guiding the Proteas to 621 all out and a 225-run first-innings lead.
The right-handed batter, who had stepped down as captain earlier that year, formed partnerships with Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj. Though he fell one run short of his maiden double-century, dismissed while attempting to go over the top against Wanindu Hasaranga, he played a massive role in the team’s innings win.
12. Angelo Mathews vs Bangladesh, 2022:
Legendary Sri Lankan all-rounder, Angelo Mathews, recorded the feat in Chattogram during the first Test against Bangladesh in May 2022, as he fell short of a double century by just a run. Notably, Mathews holds the rare record of being the only cricketer to be dismissed both on 99 and 199 in Tests.
The right-handed batter anchored Sri Lanka’s innings after skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and chose to bat. His marathon knock featured 19 fours and a six, guiding the visitors to a total of 397. Alongside him, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis contributed handy fifties. His dismissal came off spinner Nayeem Hasan, who claimed six wickets for 105 runs, his best Test figures. The visitors eventually won the game by 10 wickets with Mathews earning the Player of the Match award.