Joe Root Joins Sachin Tendulkar in Elite Record With Fifty Against Pakistan at Headingley

Joe Root reached another major milestone in Test cricket on Thursday, drawing level with Sachin Tendulkar for the highest number of half-centuries in the format.

Tendulkar played 200 Tests for India before calling time on his career. He ended with 68 fifties and 51 hundreds, while his 15,921 Test runs still make him the leading run-scorer in the format. He also finished with an impressive batting average of 53.78.

Joe Root, who has scored more than 14,000 Test runs and sits just behind Sachin Tendulkar, made a valuable half-century against Pakistan in the first innings of the series opener at Headingley.

It was Root’s 68th Test fifty, putting him level with Tendulkar. However, the Indian legend still has the edge when it comes to total fifty-plus scores, with 119 to his name. Tendulkar also turned 51 of his fifties into centuries, while Root has converted 41 into hundreds.

For the unversed, the ongoing Test against Pakistan is Joe Root’s first match since taking over as England captain for the second time. The 35-year-old was given the job after experienced all-rounder Ben Stokes retired from international cricket.

Root looked comfortable despite the extra responsibility and scored 66 from 112 balls in England’s first innings. His knock also helped him move past West Indies great Clive Lloyd for the most number of half-centuries scored by a Test captain.

After Root’s dismissal, Harry Brook led the team’s batting charge with a blistering knock, helping England finish the day two strongly at 366 for the loss of 8 wickets.

Most Half-Centuries by Men’s Batter in Test Format

• Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 68 in 329 innings
• Joe Root (England) – 68 in 305 innings
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) – 66 in 280 innings
• Allan Border (Australia) – 63 in 265 innings
• Rahul Dravid (India) – 63 in 286 innings