Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root top Khel Now’s list of Test batsmen with most fifties

Khel Now published on 2026-08-21 a ranking of the top five Test batsmen by number of half-centuries, placing Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root as joint leaders. The list also names Rahul Dravid, Allan Border and Shivnarine Chanderpaul among the five players with the most fifties in Test cricket.

The article frames a Test fifty as a measure of patience, adaptability, technique and self-belief, and notes that over more than 150 years of Test history only a handful of players have combined longevity with frequent 50-plus scores. It states that versatility across opponents and conditions is required to sustain success in the format.

Rahul Dravid, identified by the article as “The Wall,” is profiled with career totals including 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries. The piece records that Dravid faced the most balls in Test history, 31,258, and that he represented India in Tests between 1996 and 2012.

Former Australian captain Allan Border is described as a “run machine” for Australia between 1980 and 1990 and as a leader known as “Captain Grumpy.” The article states Border played 156 Tests between 1978 and 1994, scoring 11,174 runs at 50.56 with 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is noted for an ultra-unorthodox, ‘front-on’ batting stance and for being a crisis player for his national side. According to the piece, Chanderpaul appeared in 164 Tests between 1994 and 2015 and finished with 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37, including 30 centuries and 66 half-centuries.

The article outlines Sachin Tendulkar’s statistical prominence, recording that he played 200 Tests and scored 15,921 runs at 53.78, with 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. It adds that Tendulkar holds the records for most runs, most centuries and most matches in the format, with the runs total listed as 15,921.

On Joe Root, the piece says England’s batter is regarded as the best Test player in modern-day cricket and that he holds the record for the most runs in the World Test Championship. It states Root has played 167 matches, scored 14,180 runs at 50.64, and compiled 41 centuries alongside 68 half-centuries, and it adds that surpassing Tendulkar is an objective Root is eyeing.

The article concludes by stating that Sachin Tendulkar and Joe Root have the joint most 50+ scores in Test cricket. The story is credited to Karan Rawat.