So near yet so far: Three batsmen with most Test fifties but 0 centuries

In any format of the game, a batsman is always aiming to score a century for his team. It is one of the biggest aspirations for any batter. Particularly if it comes in Test format, the knock becomes more special. However, there have been some batsmen who have nearly reached their century in Tests but lost their wicket in the end. In this article, we will be listing out three players who have hit the most Test half-centuries without scoring a single hundred.

3. Ken Mackay – 13

Former Australian player Ken Mackay scored 13 half-centuries in his Test career but could never cross the 100-run mark. His highest score in the longest format was 89. Overall, Mackay scored 1507 runs in 52 innings at an average of 33.48. He played 52 Test matches between 1956 and 1963.

2. Chetan Chauhan – 16

Former Indian opener Chetan Chauhan held the record for most Test fifties without a hundred for a long time. He scored 2084 runs in 68 innings at an average of 31.57. The right-hander registered 16 half-centuries in his Test career running from 1969 to 1981. He registered his highest Test score of 97 against Australia in 1981.

Chetan Chauhan got out in the nineties two times in his career, while he crossed the 80-run mark many times. He held this unique record until recently before the Sri Lankan player toppled him from the top spot.

1. Niroshan Dickwella – 18

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella has been termed the unluckiest batsman in this regard. He has scored 2443 runs in 80 innings and is yet to score a century. The batter has hit 18 fifties till now with a high score of 96 against West Indies in 2021. He has been dismissed in the nervous nineties twice in his Test career. Both these scores of 90s came this year against England and West Indies.