Smashing maximums: Top three Tests with most sixes ever
Cricket has certainly evolved a lot of years and so has the dynamics of batting. Back in the era when only Test cricket existed, players emphasized prolonging their stay at the crease. However, the strike rate column gained more significance when limited-overs cricket came into the picture. It won’t be wrong to say that ODIs and T20Is also impacted Test cricket as batters nowadays tend to showcase more intent.
In fact, dashers like Rishabh Pant, David Warner, and Ben Stokes don’t mind taking the aerial route in Test matches. Interestingly, viewers would seldom witness sixes in Test matches a few decades ago. However, the mindset of batters has evolved with time and big-hits in Test matches aren’t a rarity anymore.
Meanwhile, let’s look at the top 3 Test matches with most sixes ever:
3. Pakistan vs India in Faisalabad in 2006 – 27
While India and Pakistan don’t play Test matches against each other anymore, the two arch-rivals have battled it out on some exciting contests in the past. Speaking of the Faisalabad Test between these two sides in 2006, a total of 27 sixes were smashed in the game, most in a Test match back then. Dashers like Shahid Afridi and MS Dhoni were on a roll in the drawn game as the ball often cleared the ropes.
2. Pakistan vs New Zealand in Sharjah in 2014 – 35
Quite a few sixes were smashed when Pakistan and New Zealand crossed swords in the 2014 Sharjah Test. Mohammed Hafeez cleared the fence four times en-route to his 197 in the first innings. However, it was the Brendon McCullum show which puts the Sharjah Test on this list. He slammed 11 sixes during the course of his double ton. Asad Shafiq also cleared the ropes six times, taking the sixes tally in the match to 35.
1. India vs South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019 – 37
The 2019 Visakhapatnam Test between India and South Africa marked Rohit Sharma’s debut as a Test opener. The dasher made full use of the opportunity and slammed not one but twin centuries. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal also slammed a double ton. From South Africa, Deal Elgar and Quinton de Kock reached the three-figure mark. Thanks to all these dashers, 37 sixes were recorded in the contest – most in a Test match to date.
