Top 5: Fastest Fifties in Test Cricket

Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for scoring the fastest fifty in Test cricket. And there have been a few more instances when players played at a brisk pace and scored a fifty for their team.

In this article, we will talk about the top 5 fastest fifties in Test cricket.

5. Shane Shillingford (25 balls) vs New Zealand | Kingston, 2014

Shane Shillingford, an off-spinner who represented the West Indies in 16 Tests, holds the record for scoring the fastest Test half-century for the West Indies, taking 25 deliveries. He achieved this feat against New Zealand in 2014 at Kingston while batting at number 11.

He smashed 5 sixes and 3 fours in his innings of 53* runs from 29 balls. When Shane came out to bat, the Windies were reeling at 9 for 134 runs. He stitched a partnership of 82 runs with Sulieman Benn.

4. Ben Stokes (24 balls) vs West Indies | Birmingham, 2024

England’s Test captain Ben Stokes made a 24-ball half-century in a recent Test match against the West Indies at Edgbaston when he decided to open the innings for England in the fourth innings of the match, where England had a target of 82 runs.

Stokes, in his innings, scored 9 fours and 2 sixes. He took pacer Alzaari Joseph to the cleaners and sealed the match with a six in the 8th over itself. England won the match by 10 wickets.

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3. Jacques Kallis (24 balls) vs Zimbabwe | Cape Town, 2005

Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis scored a 24-ball half-century against Zimbabwe in Cape Town in 2005. Kallis batted at 4 and played a cameo of 54 runs with the help of 5 sixes and 3 fours.

He started his innings by hitting three consecutive sixes to Creamer, and he scored boundaries against Heath Streak too. South Africa won the match by an innings and 21 runs.

2. David Warner (23 balls) vs Pakistan | Sydney, 2017 

Former Australian opener David Warner scored his half-century in 23 balls against Pakistan in Sydney.

David Warner, in his innings, hit consecutive boundaries to Yasir Shah in the fourth over of the innings, and he also smashed boundaries against Imran Khan on back-to-back four deliveries before getting bowled by Wahab Riaz on the score of 55 runs from 27 balls. His innings included 8 fours and 3 sixes.

In the first innings, the left-handed opener also scored a hundred and helped Australia win the match by 220 runs.

1. Misbah-ul-Haq (21 balls) vs Australia | Abu Dhabi, 2014

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for scoring the fastest half-century in the history of Test cricket. He hit a 21-ball half-century against Australia in Abu Dhabi.

Misbah hit 22 runs against Steven Smith in the 46th over of the innings, and in the 49th over, he reached his half-century. Misbah went on to score a hundred from 56 balls, registering the fastest Test hundred for Pakistan.

Misbah scored centuries in both innings, helping Pakistan win the match by 356 runs.