Since 1996, there have been five instances when batsmen got out on 99 in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy
We are only a few hours from the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is probably the second most iconic Test series between two particular nations after the legendary Ashes. Unlike the Ashes, though, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is somewhat of a new Test series, given it was inaugurated only in 1996. However, there’s no dearth of histories and stories when it comes to the series.
In this article, we take a look at five occasions pertaining to five batsmen who got out on 99 in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
During the first game of the 2003 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia had posted 323 in the first innings, but India had pulled 409, giving a fitting response to the Aussies. In the second innings, Matthew Hayden took the onus on himself and stayed on the crease for 128 minutes, hoping to get past the three-digit mark. However, his quest was derailed by Harbhajan Singh, and Hayden became the first batter since 1996 to get out on 98 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Had he stayed on, Australia probably would’ve won, but the game ended in a draw.
A year later, in 2004, when Australia visited India, Simon Katich got out for four runs in the first innings of the third Test played in Nagpur. Australia had put on 398 runs in the first innings, but India could only manage 185 runs in response. The second innings saw Katich making up for his first innings blunder, hitting a 99 in 157 balls at a strike rate of 63.05. However, Murali Karthik got to him before he could raise his bat to celebrate a 100. Not to forget, Damien Martyn was shown the exit at 97, but he had already scored 114 in the first innings.
The third Test at Mohali in March 2013 saw bowling going big against India’s bowling lineup. When six batsmen in the line-up went home with single-digit scores, Mitchell Starc gave Australia the much-needed boost from the rear. His 99 runs in 146 balls helped Australia reach a mammoth 408 runs in the first innings, but fortunately for India, Ishant Sharma stopped Starc from reaching 100 and beyond. Despite Starc’s gallant effort, the match went in India’s favour, thanks to Murali Vijay’s 153 runs and Shikhar Dhawan’s 187 runs.
While the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was all about Virat Kohli’s milestones, Murali Vijay also played an important knock in the first Test at Adelaide. In the second innings, he scored 99 alongside Kohli’s 141 but fell short by one run, falling to a deceptive Nathan Lyon spell and getting out via LBW. Australia went on to win the game by 48 runs despite the India lineup’s collective effort.
144 at Brisbane.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2023
145 at Trent Bridge.
95 at Lord's.
99 at Adelaide.
97 at Kingsmead.
One of the best openers in overseas for India in Tests - Thank you, Murali Vijay. pic.twitter.com/EWbtlXq7ID
In the third game of the same series, Australia scored a mammoth 530 runs in the first innings, followed by 318 in the second. In the second inning, Shaun Marsh took the game away from Indian bowlers, playing a stable knock of 99 in 215 balls, which included 11 boundaries and two sixes. However, at 99, a risky and poorly timed run between the wickets saw him getting run out by Virat Kohli. The match witnessed several players scoring big, but everybody’s effort went in vain as the game ended in a draw.
