England break the record fastest team fifty in Test cricket.

2024.07.19

Ben Duckett, England’s opening batsman, helped the team beat the record for the fastest team fifty in Test cricket during Thursday’s match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

After being requested to bat first by the West Indies, England lost opening batsman Zak Crawley on the third ball of the game.

However, Duckett responded with a frenetic exhibition of aggressive batting, aided by Ollie Pope. Duckett scored 19 runs in Jayden Seales’ second over.

Pope hit Alzarri Joseph for two boundaries, and Duckett scored nine runs off Seales’ second over. Duckett helped the club reach 50 runs with a four off Joseph in 26 balls.

England’s 4.2-overs fifty is the quickest in Test cricket history. They smashed their old record of 50 runs in 4.3 overs against South Africa in 1994.
Fastest team 50s in Test cricket

4.2: England against WI, Nottingham, 2024

4.3 – England against SA at The Oval, 1994.

4.6 – England against SL, Manchester, 2002.

5.2 – Sri Lanka against Pakistan, Karachi, 2004.

5.3 – India vs. England, Chennai, 2008.

5.3 – India vs. WI at Port of Spain, 2023

Notably, the hosts, who lead the three-match series 1-0, made one change to their playing XI as bowler Mark Wood replaced James Anderson, who ended his distinguished career on a winning note as England smashed West Indies by an innings and 114 runs in the lords.

@charith rajapaksha