Test cricket is known for its slower pace, but there have been moments of incredible speed. Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in test cricket, completing it in just 21 balls during a match against Australia in 2014. Let’s take a look at the top 10 players with the fastest fifties in Test cricket
List of Batsmen with the Fastest Fifties in Test Cricket
| No. | Balls | Player | Match | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Pakistan vs Australia | Abu Dhabi | 2014 |
| 2 | 23 | David Warner | Australia vs Pakistan | Sydney | 2017 |
| 3 | 24 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa vs Zimbabwe | Cape Town | 2005 |
| 4 | 24 | Ben Stokes | England vs West Indies | Birmingham | 2024 |
| 5 | 25 | Shane Shillingford | West Indies vs New Zealand | Kingston | 2014 |
| 6 | 26 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan vs India | Bangalore | 2005 |
| 7 | 26 | Mohammad Ashraful | Bangladesh vs India | Mirpur | 2007 |
| 8 | 26 | Dale Steyn | South Africa vs West Indies | Port Elizabeth | 2014 |
| 9 | 27 | Mohammad Yousuf | Pakistan vs South Africa | Cape Town | 2003 |
| 10 | 28 | Foffie Williams | West Indies vs England | Bridgetown | 1948 |
1. Misbah-ul-Haq – 21 Balls
Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifties in Test cricket, scoring 50 runs in just 21 balls against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014. His remarkable innings also included 100 runs off 56 balls, with 11 fours and 5 sixes.
Retiring in 2017, Misbah finished with 5,222 runs in Test cricket at an average of 46.62. Under his leadership, Pakistan won the 2012 Asia Cup. Misbah’s quick-fire fifty remains one of the most iconic moments in Test cricket history.
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2. David Warner – 23 Balls
David Warner, an explosive opener for Australia, achieved a fifty off 23 balls against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017. Warner’s aggressive knock of 55 from 27 balls included 8 fours and 3 sixes, though he was dismissed shortly after by Wahab Riaz.
Warner retired in 2024, finishing his career with 8,786 Test runs at an average of 44.59.
3. Jacques Kallis – 24 Balls
Jacques Kallis, the legendary South African all-rounder, reached his fifty in just 24 balls against Zimbabwe in 2005. He capitalized on Zimbabwe’s poor start, scoring quickly after they were bowled out for just 54. Kallis retired in 2014 as the only player to score over 10,000 runs and take more than 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
4. Ben Stokes – 24 Balls
In 2024, Ben Stokes set the record for the fastest fifties in Test cricket by an English player, reaching 50 in just 24 balls against the West Indies. He scored 57 off 28 balls, surpassing Ian Botham’s long-standing record.
Stokes’ incredible knock highlighted his aggressive style, rewriting the record for fastest fifties in Test cricket and securing England’s victory.
Before Stokes, Ian Botham held the record, but Stokes’ 2024 performance has now set a new benchmark for fastest fifties in Test cricket.
5. Shane Shillingford – 25 Balls
Shane Shillingford, a West Indian bowler, set the record for the fastest fifties in Test cricket in 2014, scoring 50 off 25 balls against New Zealand. Batting at number 11, he finished with an unbeaten 53 from 29 balls, surprising everyone and making history
Shillingford’s 53 off 29 balls remains a standout achievement in fastest fifties in Test cricket, especially for a number 11 batsman.
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