England skipper Joe Root scored his 68th Test half-century to draw level with India great Sachin Tendulkar.
England batter Joe Root added another milestone to his remarkable Test career on Thursday after scoring a half-century against Pakistan in the opening match of the series at Headingley.
Root reached his 68th Test fifty, putting him level with Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar for the most half-centuries in Test cricket. The achievement further strengthens Root’s position among the leading run-scorers in the history of the longest format.
Tendulkar accumulated 68 half-centuries during his illustrious 200-Test career, along with 51 centuries. The former India batter finished with 15,921 Test runs at an impressive average of 53.78.
Root, meanwhile, has crossed the 14,000-run mark in Test cricket and continues to chase several of Tendulkar’s longstanding records. His latest fifty came in an important innings for England against Pakistan.
The 35-year-old produced a composed 66 from 112 deliveries, providing stability during England’s first innings. His contribution also moved him ahead of former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd in the ranking for Test half-centuries by captains.
Although Root has now matched Tendulkar for half-centuries, the Indian icon remains well ahead in terms of total fifty-plus scores. Tendulkar converted considerably more of his fifties into centuries, finishing with 119 scores of 50 or more.
Among the players with the most Test half-centuries, Tendulkar and Root lead with 68 each. West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul follows with 66, while Australia’s Allan Border and India’s Rahul Dravid recorded 63 apiece.
The Pakistan series also marks Root’s first assignment as England captain since returning to the leadership role following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket.
Root has also entered the top five for most fifty-plus scores as a Test captain. South Africa’s Graeme Smith leads the list with 61, followed by Australia’s Ricky Ponting with 54 and Allan Border with 51.
Pakistan’s former captain Misbah-ul-Haq occupies fourth place with 43, while Root has moved to 42, ahead of Clive Lloyd’s 41.
Root’s latest milestone against Pakistan underlines his remarkable consistency and further cements his status as one of Test cricket’s greatest modern batters.