Joe Root Equals Sachin Tendulkar with 68th Test Fifty Against Pakistan

England captain reaches another milestone against Pakistan as his 66-run knock helps hosts build a big first-innings lead at Headingley

Root matches Tendulkar record

England captain Joe Root has equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket, reaching his 68th fifty during the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley.

Root, 35, scored 66 runs on the second day of the Test on Thursday, August 20, adding another landmark to his already remarkable career.

With his latest fifty-plus score, Root moved level with Tendulkar, who also recorded 68 Test half-centuries during his international career.

The England batter now sits at the top of the list alongside the Indian great, while West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third with 66 fifties.

Root moves past two legends

Root’s latest milestone also saw him move clear of former Australia captain Allan Border and India great Rahul Dravid.

Border and Dravid finished their Test careers with 63 half-centuries each, three fewer than Root and five behind Tendulkar's tally.

The achievement further underlines Root's consistency in the longest format. Unlike a record based solely on centuries, the fifty-plus tally reflects how regularly a batter has contributed substantial scores without necessarily converting every start into three figures.

Root's 66 against Pakistan therefore adds to a statistical record built over years of sustained Test cricket.

Fifth among Test captains

Root has also entered the top five among captains for the most 50-plus scores in Test cricket.

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith leads that list with 61 such scores. Australia's Ricky Ponting is second with 54, followed by Allan Border with 51.

Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq occupies fourth position with 43, while Root has now moved into fifth place.

The latest achievement comes soon after Root returned to the England captaincy following Ben Stokes' retirement.

Root returns as England captain

Root originally became England's Test captain in February 2017 after Alastair Cook stepped down.

He was England's 80th Test captain and remained in the position until April 2022, when he resigned and Stokes took over.

Stokes retired from international cricket in July 2026, paving the way for Root to return to the leadership role.

His latest innings therefore came in his first Test series back as captain, adding extra significance to the record.

England dominate second day

Root's 66 was part of a strong batting display by England in the first Test.

England reached 366 for eight at stumps on Day 2, giving them a substantial 195-run first-innings lead over Pakistan.

Harry Brook was England's leading scorer with 91, while Jordan Cox contributed 73. Dan Lawrence also made a half-century, scoring 51.

Root and Cox put together a century partnership that helped England establish control after Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in their first innings.

Pakistan face uphill battle

Pakistan's first-innings total of 171 left England with a significant advantage, and the hosts capitalised by putting together a strong response.

Cox's 73 and Root's 66 provided the stability needed in the middle order, while Brook's 91 pushed England's lead towards a commanding position.

By the close of play, England had eight wickets down but remained comfortably ahead on the scoreboard.

For Root, however, the day's play was about more than England's lead. His 68th Test fifty brought him level with Tendulkar, while also moving him beyond several of the game's most celebrated batters in the overall fifty-plus rankings.

At 35, Root now has another statistical milestone within reach: moving outright ahead of Tendulkar for the most Test half-centuries.