Bairstow the unlucky 13th in 99 club

Jonny Bairstow joined an exclusive club when he became the unlucky 13th England batsman to be dismissed on 99 in Tests.

Report & Highlights: Anderson fires as Proteas wobble

However, despite his disappointment in falling one run short of a fourth Test century, the Yorkshireman can take pride from the fact he produced a quite brilliant display of batting that underlines his value to this England team.

Bairstow, who had started the second day of this final Test against South Africa on 33, was on 53 when James Anderson, England’s last man in, came to the crease.

He marshalled the strike so expertly that Anderson faced just 15 of the final 55 deliveries in the innings.

The last-wicket stand was worth 50 runs and Bairstow scored 46 of them.

It was a knock that helped Joe Root’s team post 362, a first-innings total that now looks like it will be good enough to win England the match and the series after South Africa stumbled to the close on 9-220.

As Anderson, who took four wickets from the end that has been renamed in his honour at his home ground of Old Trafford, said: "I was disappointed Jonny couldn’t get to three figures but it was an absolutely crucial knock for us in the context of the game."

Bairstow’s end came when, with South Africa’s fielders all close in, he attempted to sweep spinner Keshav Maharaj. He was given out lbw and was sent on his way after reviewing the decision in vain.

The 27-year-old joins some famous names in England’s 99 club – including fellow Yorkshireman Geoffrey Boycott as well as Graham Gooch, Mike Atherton and Kevin Pietersen.

This was also the second time he had fallen in the 90s against South Africa, having been dismissed for 95 at Lord’s in 2012.

England lost that series but now look certain to beat the Proteas in a home Test series for the first time since 1998.

"I’ve joined a pretty special club I think,” said Bairstow.

"Obviously, I was pretty annoyed but at the same time you look back at it and if someone had said you’re going to get 99 today after starting on 33 you’d take it without a doubt.

"I kicked myself quite a bit because that’s twice now I’ve got out in the 90s against South Africa and you want your end column to be ticking over. But at the same time to put us in the position we are now in is huge."

Bairstow currently occupies the No.7 position in England’s batting line-up and this was an innings that demonstrated just why he should stay there despite calls for him to move up the order.

Since taking over the wicketkeeping gloves in England’s Test team in late 2015 he averages 54.25 and the majority of his 1953 runs since then have come from No.7.

Just like former Australia keepers Brad Haddin and Adam Gilchrist, Bairstow’s presence lower down the order gives his team an insurance policy if an innings stumbles early on. Haddin rescued Australia on countless occasions from No.7 during the 2013-14 Ashes and his runs were almost as decisive in demoralising England as the wickets taken by Mitchell Johnson during a series Australia won 5-0.

Gilchrist, a great of the game, seemed to score runs whatever the match situation.

Bairstow could prove key then to England’s Ashes hopes later this year, but it's worth noting his performances behind the stumps have also improved beyond all recognition.

It was only two years ago during England’s Test series in South Africa when Bairstow’s keeping came under the microscope after a succession of high-profile drops.

However, he managed to get a century of a different variety on the second day of this match when he caught Hashim Amla down the leg-side off Toby Roland-Jones to take his 100th Test dismissal as a keeper.

"It’s really special," said Bairstow. "I think if you’d have said that to me two years ago I would have said 'no chance'.

"But the hard work I’ve put in over the last couple of years and me actually keeping in games of cricket has helped. Hopefully I can carry it on that upward curve.

"I’m absolutely delighted to achieve that but hopefully there’s a couple of hundred more in the tank."

England's Test 99 club

• Norman Yardley v South Africa, Trent Bridge, 1947
• Mike Smith v South Africa, Lord's, 1960
• Mike Smith v Pakistan, Lahore, 1961
• Ted Dexter v Australia, Brisbane, 1962
• Dennis Amiss v Pakistan, Karachi, 1973
• Geoffrey Boycott v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1974
• Graham Gooch v Australia, Melbourne, 1980
• Martyn Moxon v New Zealand, Auckland, 1988
• Mike Atherton v Australia, Lord's, 1993
• Mike Atherton v South Africa, Headingley, 1994
• Marcus Trescothick v India, Ahmedabad, 2001
• Kevin Pietersen v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2010
• Jonny Bairstow v South Africa, Old Trafford, 2017