Gambhir equals Richards record

Mirpur:

Gautam Gambhir on Monday equalled West Indian legend Vivian Richards' world record of most fifties in consecutive Tests during his 68-run knock on the second day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh here on Monday.

Gambhir and Richards now have 11 fifty-plus knocks each in as many consecutive Tests.

The successful run of the left-handed Indian opener, the top-ranked player in the ICC batsmen rankings and 2009 ICC Player of the Year, started with the 67 and 104 he made in the second Test against Australia at Mohali in October 2008.

His other 50-plus scores since then are 206 (vs Australia; Oct 2008), 66 (vs England; Dec 2008 ), 179 and 97 (vs England; Dec 2008), 72 (vs New Zealand; March 2009), 137 (vs New Zealand; March 2009), 167 (vs New Zealand; April 2009), 114 (vs Sri Lanka; Nov 2009), 167 (vs Sri Lanka; Nov 2009), 116 (vs Bangladesh; Jan 2010).

Richards achieved the record between January 1976 to February 1977.

Gambhir, however, missed out on Australian Don Bradman's record of six Test tons in as many consecutive matches.

Gambhir, South African Jacques Kallis and Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf are just the Australian legend with five centuries in as many successive Tests.