Ashes History: The 2023 Ashes have already brought thrills and spills, on-field and off-field banter, inventive field placements and a ninth-wicket partnership to end a nerve-wracking run chase, among other things.
Ben Duckett became the first batter in the series to be dismissed in the ‘nervous nineties’ on Day 2 of the second Test at Lord’s. On 98, the left-hander top-edged a short ball from Josh Hazlewood to David Warner at long leg, falling just short of his first Ashes century.
A century is one of the most significant marks in cricket and is frequently used as a measure for batter selection and differentiation. The thought of achieving a century and the subsequent celebrations adds to the drama of the game on the field as well as for those watching at home.
Several great hitters suffered in the 1990s as a result of the expectation of hitting the milestone and the mental games that may ensue. Steve Waugh, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar, who have a combined 119 Test centuries, lead the list of dismissals in the 90s, highlighting the difficulties a batter encounters while reaching the 90s.
Despite their expertise and accomplishments, all three have been dismissed 10 times in Tests between 90 and 99. Despite falling short of the century threshold, many knocks have been quite expensive, and they frequently have some history associated to them.
Here are the five best 90s players in Ashes history.
#1 Steve Smith 92 (Lord’s, 2019)
England’s kryptonite, Steve Smith, played another stunning innings in the second Test of the 2019 Ashes at Lord’s before being bowled out for 92. On a pitch with much of support for the bowlers, the unflappable Smith was on his way to his third consecutive century of the series.
However, following a thrilling duel with debutant Jofra Archer, the 34-year-old was forced to quit injured on 80 after being struck by a vicious short-ball. Despite returning to the field, Smith did not appear to be his normal assured self, falling eight runs shy of his sixth century in his past seven Ashes innings.
Nonetheless, the great hitter recorded his eighth consecutive half-century in the Ashes, becoming the first player to do so. His performance was also the only half-century in Australia’s first innings score of 250, which left them behind the English by just eight runs.
In the second innings, Smith was replaced by his heir apparent Marnus Labuschagne, who produced a critical half-century to assist Australia win a draw.
While Smith did not make the Lord’s Honours board for the second time in his career, he did not miss out on Day 2 of the current Test.
#2 Sir Alastair Cook 96 (Lord’s, 2015)
Former England opener Sir Alastair Cook scored 96 with the side behind 30-4 in the second Test of the 2015 Ashes at Lord’s before succumbing to Mitchell Marsh. Cook was dismissed for 95 in 2009, his second dismissal in the 90s at Lord’s in an Ashes series.
While the hosts won the game in 2009, they were thrashed by the Aussies in this encounter after the southpaw’s departure prompted an English collapse.
Despite Cook’s gutsy knock, which helped England reach the once-unthinkable 300-run milestone, England lost by a staggering 405 runs.
The former England captain has four centuries at Lord’s, but none in the Ashes. Despite a great Test record of 33 hundred, Cook has been removed seven times in the low nineties.
#3 Ashton Agar 98 (Trent Bridge, 2013)
A talk of the Ashes is incomplete without mentioning Ashton Agar’s remarkable 98 in the first Test of the 2013 Ashes series at Trent Bridge. The Australians were in tatters at 117-9 after limiting England to 215.
On his Test debut, Ashton Agar batted at number 11, stunning the England squad and the fans with one of the most magnificent displays of lower-order batting. The 29-year-old set multiple milestones, including the greatest score by a number 11 and is the first player in Test history to achieve a half-century at the position.
Despite eventually losing by 14 runs, the swashbuckling innings helped Australia build a 65-run advantage.
#4 Kevin Pietersen & Paul Collingwood (Brisbane, 2006)
It is unusual for two batsmen from the same side to be removed in the 90s in the same innings, but England had the misfortune in the first Test of the 2006-07 Ashes series.
Following a disastrous first three innings, England was handed a tough goal of 648 to take a 1-0 lead. Despite being dropped to 91-3, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood provided a little fright to the hosts with a stroke-filled 153-run partnership.
However, the pair were both removed in the 90s, becoming the first tandem in Ashes history to do so as England lost by 277 runs.
Later that year, at the Adelaide Oval, David Warner and Steve Smith became the second and first Australian duo in Ashes history to be dismissed in the 90s in the same innings.
#5 Shane Warne 90 (Manchester, 2005)
Shane Warne, the late great, delivered a gutsy innings in the third Test of the 2005 Ashes series at Manchester. With the series level at one, England scored a massive total of 444 and had Australia reeling at 201-7.
The fighter in Shane Warne, on the other hand, was on full display as he absorbed multiple hits in his knockout of 90 to keep Australia in the battle. Unfortunately for the renowned spinner, he failed to get his elusive century for the second time after being removed on 99 against New Zealand a few years ago.
Warne concluded his career with nearly 3,000 Test runs and 12 half-centuries, although he was never able to break three figures. Nonetheless, his 90 was invaluable in helping Australia preserve the game in the last innings with a single wicket in hand.
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