Joe Root added another landmark to his extraordinary Test career on Thursday, equalling Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket during England’s first Test against Pakistan at Headingley.Root brought up his 68th Test fifty on the second day before being dismissed for 66 off 112 balls, including 10 boundaries. The milestone put the England captain level with Tendulkar at the top of the all-time list for most fifties in the longest format.West Indies batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66, while former Australia captain Allan Border and India great Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Ricky Ponting is next with 62.For Root, the achievement came on a significant day in his international career as he returned to the England Test captaincy following Ben Stokes’ retirement.
Most fifties in Tests
- 68* – Joe Root
- 68 – Sachin Tendulkar
- 66 – S Chanderpaul
- 63 – Allan Border
- 63 – Rahul Dravid
- 62 – Ricky Ponting
Root, Cox put England in command
Root resumed the day alongside Jordan Cox with England on 112/2, still 59 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 171. The pair proceeded to take control of the contest, putting together a century partnership that carried England beyond Pakistan’s modest total.Cox was the more aggressive of the two initially and went on to score 73 before being dismissed by Ali Usman. Root followed soon afterwards, falling for 66 as Pakistan finally broke through after the drinks interval.Khurram Shahzad trapped Root lbw with an inswinger that moved back sharply. Root shuffled down the pitch looking to work the ball away but failed to make contact, with the delivery striking him in front of middle stump.The dismissal also left England without any reviews.Root’s 66 ensured that his 68th fifty came without a century, but the milestone further underlined his remarkable consistency in Test cricket. His tally of 68 fifties now matches Tendulkar’s record, with Root having the opportunity to move outright clear at the top in his next innings.Root has also climbed into the top five for most 50-plus scores as a Test captain, with his latest half-century taking his tally to 42 in that category. South Africa’s Graeme Smith leads the list with 61, followed by Ponting (54), Border (51) and Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq (43).
England take first-innings lead after pace attack dominates
England had earlier put themselves in a strong position by bowling Pakistan out for just 171 after Root won the toss and opted to field in favourable conditions.Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shared the wickets, taking five apiece. Robinson finished with figures of 5/51, while Tongue returned 5/46 as Pakistan’s batting line-up struggled against England’s pace attack.Abdullah Shafique provided the main resistance for Pakistan, scoring 61, but England kept the pressure on and eventually dismissed the visitors inside 49 overs.
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