Joe Root levels Sachin Tendulkar’s Test fifties record with 66 at Headingley

Joe Root equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most Test fifties during the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Thursday, bringing up his 68th Test half-century. He was dismissed for 66 off 112 deliveries, an innings that included 10 boundaries.

Root’s 68th fifty moves him level with Tendulkar at the top of the list for most 50-plus scores in Test cricket; Shivnarine Chanderpaul follows with 66, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Root also reached his 42nd 50-plus score as captain in Tests, placing him fifth on that list behind Graeme Smith (61), Ricky Ponting (54), Border (51) and Misbah-ul-Haq (43). The England batter is also chasing Tendulkar’s milestone for the most runs in Test cricket.

England resumed Day 2 on 112/2, still 59 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 171, before Jordan Cox and Joe Root put together a century partnership to take the initiative. Cox compiled 73 before Ali Usman dismissed him, and both batters departed in quick succession after steering England past Pakistan’s total.

At the time of those dismissals England were 205/4 in their first innings, a position that gave the hosts a 34-run lead; Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence were at the crease when play continued. Root’s contribution was the standout individual score in the rebuild that followed England’s overnight position.

Pakistan were bowled out for 171 after England won the toss and chose to bowl, with Abdullah Shafique top-scoring for the visitors with 61. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shared the wickets, each claiming five scalps — Robinson finishing with 5/51 and Tongue returning 5/46 — as England’s pace bowlers applied sustained pressure.

The match also represents Joe Root’s return as England captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement, and Root’s latest half-century adds to his Test career totals and standing among the format’s leading run-scorers.

England will look to build a sizeable first-innings lead and increase pressure on Pakistan, while Pakistan will need to take quick wickets to prevent England from establishing a commanding advantage in the first Test of the three-match series.