Top 10 batsmen with most sixes in test cricket

Only three batsmen have hit more than 100 sixes in test cricket so far.

Test cricket is known for testing the skills of both batters and bowlers. Five-day encounters are still fun to watch when the batter and bowlers give everything in the last moments to save a test or win one. Batting skills are tested when they are up against a quality bowling side in the last session of play. This tussle between bat and ball has produced several greats in the game around the world since its inception in the year 1877.

In the last 146 years, the game has also evolved and so many stars have been born. Test is originally considered as a game of patience but in recent era, six-hitting has also become a skillset for batters in this format. The current English style of play ‘Bazball’ is the talk of the town in cricket’s oldest format. With so many legends around, let’s have a look at the top 10 batters with the most sixes in the longest format of the game.

Here are the top 10 batsmen with most sixes in test cricket:

10. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 85 sixes:

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews stands at 10th position in the list of batsmen with most sixes in test cricket history. The Sri Lankan all-rounder made his test debut in 2009 and has so far played 107 tests accumulating 7458 runs in 189 innings. He also has hit 15 centuries and 41 half-centuries with a best score of 200* in this format of the game.

9. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 86 sixes:

Tim Southee made an impact for the Kiwis when he made his debut in test cricket. Not only with the ball, but also with the bat Southee played a magnificent knock. On his debut, Tim Southee picked a five-for in the first innings and later smashed 77 off 40 deliveries in the fourth innings including nine sixes against England in 2008.

Southee has so far smashed 86 sixes in his test career and he is still in running to become the fourth overall batter to complete 100 sixes in this format. Southee has batted in 139 test innings and smashed 86 sixes. He has scored 2064 runs in his test career so far. 

8. Chris Cairns (New Zealand) – 87 sixes:

Another New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns is 8th in the list of batsmen who have hit most sixes in test cricket. Cairns had hit 87 sixes in his career. He was also known for his aggressive batting. Cairns broke the long-standing record of Viv Richards and overtook him first in this elite list. Chris Cairns played 62 test matches and scored 3320 runs at an average of 33.53. He made his debut in 1989 and played till 2004. 

7. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 88 sixes:

Former West Indies skipper Brain Lara ended up his career at par with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Kumar Sangakkara. Brian Charles Lara dominated world cricket with his left-hand batting. Lara played 131 test matches in his career and smacked 88 sixes in 232 innings. He scored 11953 runs at an average of 52.88 and strike rate of 60.51 facing the likes of Glenn Mcgrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralitharan and others. 

6. Virender Sehwag (India) – 91 sixes:

The former Indian opener is one of the finest batters to grace the game. Virender Sehwag’s unique talent of scoring runs without using enough feet earned him massive praise around the world. He was known for providing quick opening partnerships to grip the game. Sehwag is 6th in this table with 91 sixes in 180 test innings. He is also among the rarest of the rare list of scoring two triple tons twice along with Bradman, Lara, and Gayle. 

5. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 97 sixes:

Hitting a six was very unlike Jacques Kallis while batting in test cricket. Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis finished his test cricket career with just 3 short of completing a rare milestone in test cricket. Kallis smashed 97 sixes in his 166-match long test career. Legendary all-rounder mostly believed in scoring through ground shots. He scored 13289 runs in his career at an average of 55.37. Kallis scored 45 centuries.

Kallis also 292 wickets in his glorious test career. 

4. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 98 sixes:

The Universe Boss Chris Gayle played 103 test matches in his career and smashed 98 sixes. Gayle is among the rarest of batters who have scored triple centuries in an innings twice along with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, and Sir Don Bradman. Gayle finished his career just two short of 100 test sixes. He scored 7214 runs in 182 innings at an average of 42.18 and an impressive strike rate of 60.26. He also scored 15 test centuries in his career. 

3. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 100 sixes:

The former Australian wicket-keeper was the first batter in the world to complete the rare milestone of smashing 100 or more sixes in test cricket. Gilchrist was one of the finest wicket-keepers to play the game and style of play led him to record-breaking numbers in his career. Gilchrist smashed the record-breaking 100th six against Sri Lanka in Hobart. He scored 5570 runs in 96 test matches for Australia batting at number 7. 

2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 107 sixes:

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum overtook Adam Gilchrist to become the leading batter with the most of sixes in test cricket but only for a few years. McCullum shifted his gear not once but twice in the later part of his career and went on to finish with 107 sixes in test cricket. He ended up scoring 6453 runs in 101 test matches in his career with 12 centuries. 

1. Ben Stokes (England) – 128 sixes:

English All-rounder Ben Stokes is currently leading the chart with 128 test sixes in 178 test innings to his name. Stokes has gone past current English coach Brendon McCullum since the term ‘Bazball’ came into inception for English cricket. Ben Stokes has been one of the greatest all-rounders in the game and so far he has scored 6230 runs in 99* test matches. Stokes has hit 13 test centuries and 31 half-centuries in his career. 

(All stats updated till 3rd February, 2024)

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