On Saturday (31st August), the 30-year-old Indian tall-pacer Ishant Sharma entered the record book in Test cricket history, but as a batsman. During the first innings of the Jamaica Test, Ishant Sharma became the batsman who took second-most innings to score maiden Test 50 runs.
Currently, Windies and India are busy in the second and final Test of the series at Sabina Park (Kingston, Jamaica). On Friday (30th August), the day one of this Test, Windies captain Jason Holder decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
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On day two of this Test match, Ishant Sharma came to bat at no.9 position when India were battling on 302/7. Playing his 92nd Test match, it was Ishant’s 126th Test innings where he completed his maiden Test fifty in 69 balls.
Ishant Sharma’s maiden Test half-century moment
Maiden Test Fifty for Ishant Sharma ?#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/AhKmVBOUjp
— ?????? (@_Anupam183) August 31, 2019
With that half-century, Ishant became the batsman who played second-most innings to score maiden Test 50 runs. While Ishant has achieved this feat in 126th Test innings, the record holder James Anderson (England) managed this feat in 131st Test innings. Among the Indians, the previous record-holder was Bishan Singh Bedi who achieved this feat in 71 Test innings.
Most innings before the maiden Test 50 runs
| Player (Team) | Number of Test innings to maiden Test 50 |
| James Anderson (England) | 131 |
| Ishant Sharma (India) | 126 |
| Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 115 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 85 |
| Jason Gillespie (Australia) | 77 |
| Bishan Singh Bedi (India) | 71 |
Ishant Sharma’s lengthy batting helped India to manage 400+ first innings total
Finally, Ishant Sharma scored 57 runs (80 balls) in that innings before losing his wicket. In that innings, the tall right-handed batsman hit seven fours. It was his only second 50+ score in the first-class career while his best score in the first-class cricket is still 66 runs. Playing for Sussex in the County Championship Division Two 2018, Ishant scored 66 runs against Leicestershire in the first innings.
Coming back to the Jamaica Test, Ishant’s 57 runs helped India to manage 416 runs in the first innings. Ishant’s presence also helped Hanuma Vihari to complete his maiden Test century as he scored 111 runs. Ishant and Vihari had the 112 runs partnership for that eighth wicket. Apart from them, opener Mayank Agarwal (55 runs) and captain Virat Kohli (76 runs) also played 50+ knocks in that innings.