Joe Root makes history, breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record
Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: England captain Joe Root surpassed Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of fifties in Test cricket during England’s eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 69 balls, hitting nine fours as England chased down 130 to complete a 3–0 Test series whitewash.His unbeaten half-century took his tally of Test fifties to 69, moving past Tendulkar’s 68.West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Ricky Ponting has 62.
Most fifties in Test cricket
- 69* – Joe Root
- 68 – Sachin Tendulkar
- 66 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- 63 – Allan Border
- 63 – Rahul Dravid
- 62 – Ricky Ponting
Root joins the elite 1000-run club
Root also became the first batsman to score more than 1,000 Test runs at Edgbaston. The England star has now crossed the 1000-run mark at four different Test venues. He has 2,203 runs at Lord’s, 1,128 at Manchester and 1,050 at The Oval.Only two other players – South African great Jacques Kallis and Australian legend Ricky Ponting – have previously scored more than 1,000 Test runs at four different venues.
England finished the whitewash 3-0
Root’s record came on the day England completed a dominant 3-0 Test series victory over Pakistan.Chasing 130, England finished on 130/2 with Root not out on 62 and Jordan Cox not out on 59.England have already won the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s. With the win, Edgbaston completed the series 3–0 over Pakistan.