Which were Test cricket's best ever fifties not converted into centuries?

[Harsh Thakor]

In order of merit my best test match fifties of all time.Taken into consideration domination,situation of game,strength of bowling attack and conditions.

1.97 not out by Vishwanath in 1974-75 v West Indies
2.96 by Sunil Gavaskar at Bangalore v Pakistan
3.Mohinder Amarnath's 80 and 91 at Barbados in 1983.
4.Viv Richards 74 and 76 at Adelaide in 1979-80
5.Viv Richards 65 at Trent Bridge in 1980
6.Ted Dexter 70 v West Indies at Lords in 1963.
7.Salim Malik's 82 and 84 not out at Leeds in 1992
8.Steve Waugh's 63 not out at Trinidad in 1995
9.Sunil Gavaskar's 90 at Ahmedabad v West Indies in 1983-84
10.Greg Chappell's 98 not out v England at Sydney in 1979-80.
11.Alan Borders 98 not out at Trinidad in 1984
12.Virendra Sehwag's 83 v England at Kolkata in 2008-09
13.Salim Malik's 99 at Leeds in 1987
14.David Gower's 72 at Perth in 1982-83
15.Kapil Dev's 97 at the Oval in 1982.
16.Inzamam Ul Haq's 58 not out v Australia in 1994.
17.Desmond Haynes 88 at Trent Bridge in 1980
18.Majid Khan's 98 at the Oval in 1974
19.Kapil Dev's 77 at Lords in 1990
20.Dilip Vengsarkar's 76 at Lahore in 1978-79



Vishy's 97 on top because of the supreme artistry he displayed on the fastest of wickets to single-handedly turn the game.Took cricketing genius to it's deepest waters.Gavaskar's 96 was an epic on the worst of pitches which I doubt any batsmen could equal in such conditions.Viv's fifties at Adelaide and Old Trafford revealed domination no batsmen ever did considering attack and conditions,.Can't forget his imperious strokes off Dennis Lillee or Bob Willis.Amarnath played the best pace attack ever better than anyone at Barbados in 1983 .Kapil Dev created vibrations of a hurricane in his innings listed.Salim Malik 's knocks proved how much he could master adverse or overcast conditions in England.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

You are missing:

Laxman's 96 in Durban 2010
Laxman's 73* vs Australia in mohali 2010 to singlehandedly win the match by 1 wicket
Inzamam's match winning 92 vs SA 2007
Dravid's 81 and 68 vs West Indies on a minefield of a pitch in 2006
Dravid's 76 vs Shane Bond on a greentop in 2002
Ricky Ponting 78 vs England Headingley 2009
Andrew Flintoff 68 vs Australia Edgbaston 2005
AB de Villiers 33 in 220 balls vs Australia Adelaide 2012

But the best of all and the most underrated and overlooked innings ever:
Viv Richards 61 in 36 balls vs India in 1983. West Indies needed 110 runs in 14 overs when he came in. They won with 1 over remaining.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...ia-1st-Test-india-in-west-indies-test-series/

 

[Harsh Thakor]

You are missing:

Laxman's 96 in Durban 2010
Laxman's 73* vs Australia in mohali 2010 to singlehandedly win the match by 1 wicket
Inzamam's match winning 92 vs SA 2007
Dravid's 81 and 68 vs West Indies on a minefield of a pitch in 2006
Dravid's 76 vs Shane Bond on a greentop in 2002
Ricky Ponting 78 vs England Headingley 2009
Andrew Flintoff 68 vs Australia Edgbaston 2005
AB de Villiers 33 in 220 balls vs Australia Adelaide 2012

But the best of all and the most underrated and overlooked innings ever:
Viv Richards 61 in 36 balls vs India in 1983. West Indies needed 110 runs in 14 overs when he came in. They won with 1 over remaining.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...ia-1st-Test-india-in-west-indies-test-series/

Dravid's knocks at Kingston and Viv's just missed the cut could well have made it.so could Ponting's 78 at Leeds.Probably mistake leaving out Laxman's match-winning 73 against Australia.great choices by you anyway.In 25 best most would make it.

 

[sajjad786]

asim kamal had a few i think

 

[IndianWillow]

Just for your consideration. In the era of home umpires I think I would personally rate many of these away knocks better than home knocks. Home umpires were notorious for their bias in judgements in closely fought matches. For example, Gavaskar 96 was, I think mired in umpiring controversy and was also a chancy knock. So great as it truly was, it still might not belong at #2.

 

[Proactive_]

Pujara's 92 in the second Test at Bangalore vs Australia this year. This innings not just saved the test match but the entire series. Australia were 1-0 up with a healthy first innings lead of 87, it was all but 2-0 if not for Pujara's innings and his partnership with Rahane. Easily the best innings played by an Indian this year.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Just for your consideration. In the era of home umpires I think I would personally rate many of these away knocks better than home knocks. Home umpires were notorious for their bias in judgements in closely fought matches. For example, Gavaskar 96 was, I think mired in umpiring controversy and was also a chancy knock. So great as it truly was, it still might not belong at #2.

I've watched the entire innings and most of it is on YouTube too. There is one decision which should have been given but nothing more. Even as a Pakistan supporter I say there were a few half shouts but nothing overly controversial. Also the pitch was a nightmare. Spinners deliveries were bouncing over the keeper at times!

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Pujara's 92 in the second Test at Bangalore vs Australia this year. This innings not just saved the test match but the entire series. Australia were 1-0 up with a healthy first innings lead of 87, it was all but 2-0 if not for Pujara's innings and his partnership with Rahane. Easily the best innings played by an Indian this year.

Good shout. That was a great knock.