Milestone men! Fastest half centuries in Test cricket

Following is a factbox on the fastest half centuries in Test cricket after Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq reached the mark in 21 balls against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Fastest half centuries in Test cricket:

Misbah-ul-Haq of Pakistan used only 21 balls to reach his half century against Australia in 2014.

Jacques Kallis of South Africa reached the milestone in 24 balls against Zimbabwe in 2005.

West Indies’s Shane Shillingford took just a ball more than Kallis to achive the feat against New Zealand in 2014.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi took 26 balls to score 50 runs against arch-rivals India in 2005.

Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh managed to reach the feat in 26 balls against the sub-continent giants, India in 2007.

It took 27 balls for Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf to score a half century against South Africa in 2003.

It all started in the year 1948 when West Indies' great Foffie Williams took 28 balls to reach his fastest half century against England.

England’s Ian Botham took 28 balls to score his fastest fifty against India in 1981.

The flamboyant Chris Gayle also took 28 balls to score 50 runs against New Zealand in 2014.

Australia’s Bruce Yardley managed the feat in just 29 balls against West Indies in 1978.

Tim Southee of New Zealand took 29 balls to reach his fastest fifty against England in 2008.