The top 10 Test cricket players who have scored the fastest 50 runs have shown their ability to think quickly, adapt to tough situations, and challenge the norms. Their impressive achievements have amazed fans and critics, bringing new excitement to the game and inspiring future players to adopt an aggressive batting style.
Test cricket is the longest and most traditional format of the game, usually known for its slow and steady pace. The game lasts several days, with players focusing on building strong foundations, tiring out their opponents, and slowly scoring runs. However, some exceptional players have broken this mold by scoring runs very quickly.
Here are the top 10 Test cricket players who scored the fastest 50 runs.
10. Ian Botham
Ian Botham made the fastest fifty in Test cricket by scoring 50 runs off 28 balls against India in Delhi in 1981. He finished with 66 runs from 48 balls, with a strike rate of 137.50. The match ended in a draw. Botham, known as one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, played 102 Tests and 116 ODIs in his career.
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9. Foffie Williams
Foffie Williams, a West Indian cricketer, played four Test matches between 1939 and 1948. In a memorable 1948 Test against England in Bridgetown, he made a big impact by scoring 50 runs from just 28 balls and finished with 72 runs. He started his innings with six balls that went to the boundary: 6, 6, 4, 4, 4, and 4. Despite his great performance, the match ended in a draw.
8. Yusuf Youhana
In the 2003 Cape Town Test against South Africa, Mohammad Yousuf had a tough start, getting out for a golden duck in the first innings. However, he recovered well in the second innings, scoring a fast half-century off just 27 balls. Despite Yousuf’s strong performance, Pakistan lost the match. Throughout his career of 90 Tests, Yousuf had an impressive average of 52.29, with 24 centuries and 33 half-centuries.
7. Dale Steyn
Seventh on the list is Dale Steyn, a famous South African fast bowler. He hit a quick fifty in just 26 balls against the West Indies in Port Elizabeth in 2014. Steyn ended with 58 runs from 28 balls, with a high strike rate of 207.14, helping South Africa declare at 418 runs. Even with his great performance, the match ended in a draw. Dale Steyn, who has taken the most wickets for South Africa in Test cricket, retired from international cricket on August 31, 2021.
6. Mohammad Ashraful
Following Afridi’s example, Mohammad Ashraful from Bangladesh scored a half-century in just 26 balls against India in 2007 at Mirpur. He went on to score 67 runs off 41 balls. Despite his effort, India won the match by an innings and 239 runs. Ashraful, who was the captain of Bangladesh in 13 Tests and 38 ODIs from 2007 to 2009, holds the record for the fastest fifty in both Test and ODI formats for Bangladesh.
5. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi scored a fast fifty in just 26 balls against India in Bangalore in 2005. Pakistan scored a big total of 570 runs in their first innings, thanks to centuries by Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In their second innings, they declared at 261/2, giving India a target of 383 runs. Afridi also took 3 wickets, helping Pakistan win the match.
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4. Shane Shillingford
Shane Shillingford from the West Indies showed his skill by scoring a fast 50 runs from just 25 balls against New Zealand in Kingston in 2014. He remained not out with 53 runs from 29 balls, hitting three boundaries and five big sixes. In his career, he played 16 Test matches, took 70 wickets, and scored 266 runs, including this impressive half-century.
3. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis, known as one of cricket’s best all-rounders, scored the fastest fifty in Test cricket in just 24 balls against Zimbabwe in 2005. He ended that match with 54 not out and also took five wickets. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award as South Africa won by an innings and 21 runs. Throughout his Test career, Kallis scored 13,289 runs, took 292 wickets, and made 200 catches, making him a legend of the game.
2. David Warner
David Warner scored the second fastest fifty in Test cricket, taking only 23 balls against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017. Australia declared their innings at 538/8, with Warner scoring 113 runs. Pakistan scored 315 runs in reply, with Younis Khan remaining not out on 175. Australia then set a target of 465 runs for Pakistan, who were bowled out for 244, giving Australia the win.
1. Misbah Ul Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq set the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket by scoring it in just 21 balls against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014. He went on to score 101 runs from 168 balls. Pakistan declared their innings at 570/6, setting Australia a tough target of 603 runs. Australia was eventually out for 246, and Zulfiqar Babar took 5 wickets, leading to Pakistan’s victory.
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