Most Sixes in Test International Cricket

Hitting sixes in red-ball cricket is as rare as a specialist picking a four-wicket haul. But then, some players just have it in their style of aggression to knock the ball out of the ground, irrespective of the format. Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, and Virender Sehwag are the hard-hitting players who haven’t shied away from belting sixes, even in the longest format.

While Test cricket has traditionally been about patience and technique over big shots, we have seen an evolution where cricketers exhibit aggression even in the longest format, often slamming sixes. Ben Stokes of England has hit 131 sixes in 105 Test matches so far; he has smashed the most sixes in Test cricket.

Now let’s dig deeper into the most sixes in the test and celebrate who dared to buck the trend and brought this excitement to the game.

Top 10 Players With The Most Sixes in Test Cricket Match 

Players With the Most Sixes in the Test 

1. Ben Stokes (2013-Till date)

Ben Stokes is one of the all-rounders England can boast of; he has redefined what the role of a modern-day cricketer encompasses with his explosive batting. Stokes is known for their fearless approach and scored the Most Sixes in Test; in his Test career, which dates back to 2013, he has smashed 131 sixes. At present, he has played 105 Test matches, scoring 6508 runs at an average of 35.75. He has scored 13 centuries in the Test format.

2. Brendon McCullum (2004-2016)

Brendon McCullum scored 107 sixes during his tenure with New Zealand from 2004 to 2016. His average struck with 38.64, McCullum performed well throughout his Test, making 6453 runs. In 2014, McCullum made history as he became the first New Zealander to score a triple century against India with a spellbinding innings. His 302-run knock was laced with 32 fours and four sixes and supported his side to a first series win against India in 12 years.

3. Adam Gilchrist (1999-2008)

Adam Gilchrist found the science of a match-winning batsman in explosive batting and electric glovework behind the stumps, the wicketkeeper-batsman par excellence of Australia. His cricket career run from 1999 to 2008 had ample scopes of winning matches in many ways. Gilchrist ended his career with 5570 runs in 96 battles, which included as many as 100 sixes.

4. Chris Gayle (2000-2014)

During his Test career from 2000 to 2014, Chris Gayle unleashed his power-hitting, smashing 98 sixes in 103 matches. His highest Test score of 333 against Sri Lanka in 2010 remains a testament to his sheer dominance even in the longest format of the game. Gayle ended his Test career with 7214 runs at an average of 42.18. 

5. Jacques Kallis (1995-2013)

Jacques Kallis is South Africa’s highest all-rounder and the third all-time run-scorer in Test cricket history, with over 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37 over nearly two decades. His 97 sixes mark is good for him, though his best innings remains 224 against Sri Lanka in 2011 in Test cricket.

6. Virender Sehwag (2001-2013)

Explosive  Indian opener Virender Sehwag stands sixth in the most sixes in tests, played Test cricket from 2001 to 2013, and scored 91 sixes, more or less always controlling Indian innings with his aggressive top-order batting. His career-best of 319 against South Africa in 2008 arguably remains the most iconic innings in Indian cricket’s history.

Sehwag was a bold fellow and his method was unorthodox, thus making him a formidable figure for bowlers everywhere in the globe. Sehwag has the distinction to his name of scoring 8586 Test runs, which makes it the highest career strike rate of a batsman. His strike rate of 82.23 shows the aggressiveness he had for himself in cricket.

7. Tim Southee (2008-Till date)

Tim Southee is a bowler who has occasionally proved his worth with the bat. He has struck as many as 88 sixes in Test cricket. His capacity to contribute crucial runs down the order often turned the tide in favour of New Zealand. His top Test score of 77 not out against England in 2013 reflected his potential to dig deep and defy the odds when his team needed it the most.

8. Brian Lara (1990-2006)

Brian Lara’s record of 400 not out against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score in Test cricket. He scored 88 sixes in Test matches and dominated the best bowlers of his era, making him a true batting genius. In 2003, against South Africa, he scored an astonishing 28 runs off a single over bowled by Robin Peterson. This lasted till 18 years when Jasprit Bumrah broke it in 2022. By the end of his career in 2006, Lara had amassed 11953 runs averaging 52.88.

9. Chris Cairns (1989-2004)

Chris Cairns of New Zealand was an experienced all-rounder. He hit 87 sixes in his Test cricket career. Cairns’ highest score in a Test was 158, which he made against Zimbabwe in 2000. Cairns ended his Test career with a batting average of 33.53 and a bowling average of 29.40. He also worked as a commentator after retirement.

10. Angelo Mathews (2009-Till date)

Angelo Mathews is a brilliant Sri Lankan all-rounder who has played the game from 2009 to 2024. He has scored an impressive 7,852 runs in 113 Test matches from 201 innings. All that Mathews has banked has not only seen him go around the block in terms of reliability at the crease but also clear the boundary – 87 sixes it remains. His mix of resilience and aggression has made him a prominent figure in Sri Lankan cricket, and that makes one pause and reflect on the wonderful game in the longest format.

Most Sixes in Test by Indian Batsman

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