Faf du Plessis, after relinquishing the captaincy of South Africa in every format, has taken his batting to whole another level. After having a magnificient IPL for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Du Plessis was coming off from a good run-scoring form into the international home summer.
He didn't get much opportunities to showcase his prowess in the three-match T20I series against England but the return to the longest format of the game gave him ample time and opportunity to continue his purple patch.
However, the game which South Africa eventually won, remained unlucky for Du Plessis as he joined an elite list of players, where he was just the 13th in the list.
Du Plessis completed his 10th Test century and was on the way to accomplish his maiden double hundred. But the calmness of Du Plessis ended and the excitement of getting first double-hundred took over. In a rush of blood, Du Plessis wanted to complete the milestone with a big shot but in his attempt of going for the glory over mid-on fielder, he couldn't get the required elevation and hit straight into the fielder's hands.
The dismay on his and his teammates faces told the whole story as it was there for the taking.
However, Du Plessis wasn't the first one to do so. In fact he was the 13th such unlucky one in the world. The 12th one exists in the same changeroom as the Proteas' opening batsman Dean Elgar got out on the exact same score three years ago against Bangladesh at home.
India's KL Rahul and Mohammad Azharuddin too are part of this list. Rahul was on the verge of his maiden double ton in Tests against England at home in the same game where Karun Nair hit 303*. However, Rahul couldn't achieve the milestone and fell just short.
Azharuddin in 1986 Test ,atch against Sri Lanka, was trapped in front of the wicket by Ravi Ratnayeke on 199.
Talking of Sri Lanka, the island nation also has its two batsmen, who are part of this list. Former opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya got out on 199 against India in the 1997 series when he was bowled by Abey Kuruvilla.
Another left-hander, Kumar Sangakkara too scored 199, however, was unlucky in a different sense as he remained stranded at the non-striker's end and the tailender, Nuwan Pradeep, couldn't manage to survive Mohammad Hafeez's over, at home against Pakistan in 2012.
Talking of Pakistan, they were the ones who first made this record in 1984 as before that, in the 107-year history of cricket, no batsman got out on 199. Pakistan's Mudassar Nazar was the first one to become that person to join the 199-club of Test cricket. During India's tour of Pakistan, Shivlal Yadav got the wicket of Nazar after he was caught behind by Kirmani.
However, the most unlucky of them has to be Younis Khan, who was run-out on 199. During the 2006 series against India, Younus was barbequed by his fellow Shahid Afridi when he initiated the run and Afridi didn't respond and Harbhajan Singh's accurate throw was enough to find Younis short of his ground.
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Others in the list are Andy Flower, former Australian captain Steve Waugh, Matthew Elliott, Ian Bell and Steve Smith.
