Summary Joe Root surpasses Sachin Tendulkar’s Test half-century record, reaching 69, while also closing in on his legendary run-scoring milestone.
BIRMINGHAM (Web Desk) - England Test captain and star batter Joe Root made history during the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan by breaking India legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket.
Root scored an unbeaten 62 against Pakistan, registering his 69th Test half-century.
With the milestone, Root surpassed Tendulkar to become the player with the most half-centuries in Test cricket. Root reached the landmark in 309 innings, while Tendulkar made 68 half-centuries in 329 innings.
West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66 half-centuries, while former Australia captain Allan Border and India great Rahul Dravid are joint-fourth with 63 each. Another former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, is fifth with 62 half-centuries.
Tendulkar still holds the record for the most Test centuries, having scored 51. South Africa’s Jacques Kallis is second with 45 centuries, while Root and Ponting are joint-third with 41 each.
Root is also leading the race to break another major Tendulkar record — the most Test runs.
Tendulkar finished his Test career with 15,921 runs, while the 35-year-old Root has 14,278 and is second on the all-time list. No other active cricketer is currently as close to Tendulkar’s record.
Ponting is third with 13,378 Test runs, while Australia’s 37-year-old Steve Smith has 10,920 runs among active players but remains well behind Tendulkar’s mark.
