Top 10 Batsmen With Fastest 50 in Test Cricket

While Test cricket is often associated with a slower pace, we have seen several quickfire innings in this format. In 2016, Brendon McCullum set the record for the fastest century in Test cricket, scoring 100 off just 54 balls against Australia. Meanwhile, the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket is held by Misbah-ul-Haq, who reached the figure in just 21 balls against Australia in 2014. Take a look at a list of the fastest fifties in Test cricket. 

Misbah ul Haq - 21 balls 

Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket history. He achieved this feat in 2014 against Australia in Abu Dhabi. Captain of Pakistan at the time, Misbah reached his half-century in just 21 deliveries at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, later going on to score a century in 56 balls. 

Misbah's innings was his second century in that match. He raced to his fifty in just 23 minutes, and then took an additional 34 balls and 51 minutes to complete his hundred. His innings included five sixes and 11 fours. 

Misbah retired in 2017, ending his illustrious career with 5,222 Test runs at an average of 46.62. Among his many achievements as captain across all three formats, leading Pakistan to victory in the 2012 Asia Cup stands out as a highlight.

David Warner - 23 balls 

Australia's David Warner holds the record for the second-fastest fifty in Test cricket. Warner, known for his aggressive batting style, reached this milestone in just 23 balls against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017. The southpaw went on to score 55 runs off 27 balls, which was laced with eight fours and three sixes, before being bowled by Wahab Riaz. 

Warner, who served as Australia's Test vice-captain, retired earlier this year. Over 205 innings, he amassed 8,786 Test runs at an average of 44.59. In January 2024, Warner played his final Test match and also announced his retirement from ODI cricket. By June 2024, he had stepped away from all forms of international cricket. 

David Warner//Getty Images

Jacques Kallis - 24 balls

One of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, Jacques Kallis is the third name on the list. Kallis scored a rapid fifty off just 24 balls against Zimbabwe in Cape Town in 2005.

In that match, Zimbabwe had been bowled out for just 54 on the first day, their lowest Test score at the time. When Kallis walked in at No. 4 during the second session, South Africa was already leading by 180 runs, allowing him the freedom to bat aggressively. He took full advantage of the situation, unleashing a series of powerful shots.

Kallis is the only cricketer to have scored more than 10,000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in both ODIs and Test cricket. He retired from all forms of international cricket in July 2014.

Ben Stokes - 24 balls 

Ben Stokes set a record for the fastest Test fifty by an Englishman during England's commanding 10-wicket victory over the West Indies in Birmingham in July 2024. The England captain reached his half-century in just 24 deliveries, finishing with 57 runs off 28 balls. He took England over the line with a six off Kraigg Brathwaite. Stokes' innings broke Ian Botham's 43-year-old record for England's fastest Test fifty

Ben Stokes//Getty Images

Shane Shillingford - 25 balls 

West Indies bowler Shane Shillingford ranks fifth on the list of the fastest fifties in Test cricket. Known primarily for his off-break bowling, Shillingford made an unexpected impact with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 53 off just 29 balls against New Zealand in Kingston in 2014. His fifty came off just 25 deliveries, although New Zealand ultimately won the match by 186 runs. The unbeaten 53 is also the highest score by a No. 11 batsman in the fourth innings of a Test match. 

Throughout his career, Shillingford played 16 Tests for the West Indies, taking 70 wickets.

Shahid Afridi - 26 balls 

Shahid Afridi crafted an explosive half-century off 26 balls against India in Bangalore in 2005. He went on to score 58 off 34 deliveries, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes. Pakistan posted a formidable 570 in their first innings, with centuries from Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In the second innings, they declared at 261/2, setting India a challenging target of 383. Afridi also made his mark with the ball, taking 3 wickets, helping Pakistan register a memorable victory.

Although Afridi's Test career wasn't as illustrious as his performances in ODIs and T20Is, he still made an impact. Over 27 Test matches, he scored 1,716 runs at an average of 36.51.

Mohammad Ashraful - 26 balls 

Next on the list is Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful, who struck a rapid 50 off just 26 balls against India in Mirpur in 2007. Ashraful's aggressive innings featured a series of boundaries, including three fours off Zaheer Khan in a single over. He brought up his half-century with consecutive fours off Ishant Sharma. 

However, Ashraful's international career, which included 61 Tests, came to an abrupt end when he was banned by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for over five years in 2014 due to his involvement in match-fixing.

Dale Steyn - 26 balls 

Dale Steyn, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, delivered an impressive batting performance in 2014 against the West Indies. Steyn scored a quickfire 50 off just 26 balls and was eventually dismissed for 58 off 28 deliveries, hitting six fours and five sixes. His explosive innings came to an end when he was caught by Jason Holder off Sulieman Benn's bowling.

South Africa's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, Steyn announced his retirement from the format in 2019 to focus on limited-overs cricket. Later, in 2021, he retired from all forms of cricket. 

Mohammad Yousuf - 27 balls 

Former Pakistan cricketer and captain Mohammad Yousuf ranks ninth on the list with a 27-ball fifty, which he scored against South Africa in Cape Town in 2003.

One of the standout achievements of Yousuf's illustrious career came in 2006, when he set a world record by scoring 1,788 Test runs in a calendar year at an average of nearly 100. Over his Test career, Yousuf amassed 7,530 runs, including 24 centuries and 33 fifties, at an impressive average of around 52.