Test cricket is a game where the batsmen has all the time in the world to get himself in and then score runs. But then there are players who take a little more extra time to get themselves in and then score runs. However if the same player suddenly scores runs quickly then the opposition is definitely in for a surprise.
This list has many such names who have taken the opposition and the world by surprise and scored the fastest 50 in Test Cricket. Let us take a look at list of player to do so:
|
Sl. No |
Balls |
Batsman |
Match |
Location |
Year |
|
1 |
21 |
Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) |
Pak vs Aus |
Abu Dhabi |
2014-15 |
|
2 |
24 |
Jacques Kallis (SA) |
SA vs Zim |
Cape Town |
2004-05 |
|
3 |
25 |
Shane Shillingford (WI) |
WI vs NZ |
Kingston |
2014 |
|
4 |
26 |
Shahid Afridi (Pak) |
Pak vs Ind |
Bangalore |
2004-05 |
|
4 |
26 |
Mohammad Ashraful (Ban) |
Ban vs Ind |
Mirpur |
2007 |
|
4 |
26 |
Dale Steyn (SA) |
SA vs WI |
Port Elizabeth |
2014-15 |
|
5 |
27 |
Yousuf Youhana (Pak) |
Pak vs SA |
Cape Town |
2002-03 |
Stat updated till 29 December 2014
Misbah-ul-Haq, Jacques Kallis and Yousuf Youhana. These three players are among those talented players who take their own time in a Test match to score runs. They are the pillars in a team that hold the wicket from one side and let the other batsmen score runs more easily.
But when these batsmen score a 50 in just 21, 24 and 27 balls respectively and the opposition didn’t even know what just happened.
The latest entrant into the list is most shocking of all and his name is Dale Steyn. A pace bowler who likes to run down the pitch and bowl fast has suddenly scored the 4th fastest 50 in Test Cricket. Steyn scored his 26 ball 50 against West Indies.
Rahul Dravid was another such player who had a reputation of building his innings slowly, but unfortunately he isn’t featured in this list, however few of his innings in the IPL have shown that it’s just a matter of time for any batsmen to up the tempo of their batting.