Not quite the answer to the question, but the two slowest test 50s ever were both scored

by Englishman.

2nd slowest - Chris Tavare in 1982 at Lords - 5 hours 50 minutes if batting. (Others around my age will remember Tavare. That was very much his method...)

Slowest - Trevor Bailey in 1958 at Brisbane, 5 hours 57 minutes, a mighty 350 balls.

350 balls! So (if he faced half the bowling) - 117 overs. Or four full sessions, for a batsmen to get to 50. Thrilling stuff indeed.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Jan 7, 17:01:05