Test cricket is the backbone of all formats of the game. As we all know that in this layout, players take their time to understand the nature of the pitch and the movement of the ball. Test cricket is all about discipline, perseverance, and the right technique. But there are some players who have played naturally in this format too and broken the stereotype. Let us contemplate the cricketers with the fastest 50 in test cricket history.
Ex-Pakistani skipper Misbah Ul Haq holds the record of smashing the fastest 50 in test cricket history, in just 21 balls. He reached the feat in 2014 against Australia in Abu Dhabi. Misbah amassed 5222 runs in 132 innings at a decent average of 46.62. The right-hand batter had a terrific defense which assisted him to succeed in this format.
Flamboyant Aussie opener David Warner occupies 2nd place in terms of scoring the fastest 50 in test cricket. Warner made the record in 2017 in Sydney against Pakistan n 23 balls. Warner is generally a great basher of the ball in any format of the game. The southpaw has accumulated over 8000 runs in 101 test matches for Australia, including 34 fifties.
One of the greatest all-rounders of all time, Jacques Kallis sits in 3rd place in the matter of hitting the fastest 50 in the test, the veteran took only 24 balls against Zimbabwe to set the milestone in 2005. The record remained intact for 9 years until Misbah surpassed it. Kallis ended his career as the 3rd highest run-getter in test cricket history (13289).
Former West Indian off-spinner, Shane Shillingford smashed a fifty in 2014 in Kingston against New Zealand, playing 25 balls only, which places him at the 4th spot in the list. Shillingford was a Caribbean bowler who played 16 test matches for West Indies and bagged 70 wickets.
Among Indians, Rishabh Pant smacked the fastest 50 in test cricket. He is a new addition to the chart of fastest 50 in test, setting the record in just 28 balls against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022. Rishabh broke Kapil Dev’s 30-ball fifty record to smash the fastest test 50 for India. Rishabh has a high strike rate of 73.63 in the test.
Top 10 Players with Fastest 50 In Test Cricket
| Player | Balls | Against | Year | Venue |
| Misbah Ul Haq (PAK) | 21 | Australia | 2014 | Abu Dhabi |
| David Warner (AUS) | 23 | Pakistan | 2017 | Sydney |
| Jacques Kallis (SA) | 24 | Zimbabwe | 2005 | Cape Town |
| Shane Shillingford (WI) | 25 | New Zealand | 2014 | Kingston |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 26 | India | 2005 | Bengaluru |
| Mohammad Ashraful (BAN) | 26 | India | 2007 | Mirpur |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 26 | West Indies | 2014 | Port Elizabeth |
| Mohammad Yusuf (PAK) | 27 | South Africa | 2003 | Cape Town |
| Albert Williams (WI) | 28 | England | 1948 | Bridgetown |
| Ian Botham (ENG) | 28 | India | 1981 | Delhi |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 28 | New Zealand | 2014 | Port of Spain |
Misbah Ul Haq scored the fastest 50 in test cricket in just 21 balls against Australia.
Rishabh Pant scored the fastest 50 for India in the test (28 balls).
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
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