In this article, we look at players who have scored the most sixes in a Test innings. Legendary Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram leads the pack that contains such names as Astle, Hayden, McCullum, Stokes, Hammond, Cairns, Inzamam and Gayle. The record has remained unbroken since it was set over 25 years ago.
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Wasim Akram (12)
Former Pakistan allrounder Wasim Akram set the record for the most sixes in an innings in Test cricket during his unbeaten knock of 257 versus Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura in October 1996. He registered 12 sixes and 22 fours during the innings which came in the first Test of a two-match series on Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan. In that game, the tourists batted first and scored 375. In reply, Pakistan were reduced to 183 for 6 when Akram took guard at the wicket. During his knock, Akram was involved in an 8th wicket stand of 337 with Saqlain Mushtaq. On the back of that stand, Pakistan scored 553. In their second knock, Zimbabwe scored 241/7 in a high scoring draw.
N J Astle (11)p>Former New Zealand top order batter Nathan Astle scored 11 sixes and 28 fours in a fourth innings knock of 222 versus England at Christchurch in March 2002. In the first Test of a three-match series, England batted first and scored 228. In reply, the hosts were bowled out for 147 before England declared their second innings closed at 468/6. Chasing a target of 550 to win, the Kiwis’ scorecard read 119 for 3, when Astle came to the crease. Astle was last man out as New Zealand got to 451, giving England a 98-run win.ML Hayden (11)
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden registered 11 sixes and 38 fours in a knock of 380 versus Zimbabwe in the first Test of a two-match series in Perth in October 2003. Australia batted first and scored 735/6 on the back of Hayden’s innings. In the process, Hayden broke the then record for the highest Test score of 375 by Brian Lara. In reply, Zimbabwe scored 239. Following on, the tourists were bowled out for 321, allowing Australia to win by an innings and 175 runs.
BBBB McCullum (11)
rmer New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum hit 11 sixes and 21 fours in a knock of 202 versus Pakistan in Sharjah in November 2014. In the last of a three-match series, Pakistan batted first and scored 351. McCullum’s runs came during a 2nd-wicket stand of 298 with Kane Williamson. On the back of McCullum’s knock, New Zealand scored 690. In their second innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 259, giving the tourists victory by an innings and 80 runs.
BB McCBB McCullum (11)
New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum hit 11 sixes in a Test innings for the second time within a month during a knock of 195 versus Sri Lanka in Christchurch in December 2014. The innings which came in the first Test of a two-match series also contained 30 fours. Batting first in the game, the hosts scored 441 on the back of McCullum’s knock. New Zealand imposed the follow-on after bowling out the visitors for 138. In their second innings, Sri Lanka made 407, setting the home side a target of 105 to win. The Kiwis knocked off the required runs, losing only two wickets in the process.
BA StokeBA Stokes (11)
England allrounder Ben Stokes smashed 11 sixes and 30 fours in an innings of 258 versus South Africa, in Cape Town, in January 2016, in the second Test of a four-match series. England batted first and scored 629/6 declared on the back of Stokes’s knock. The highlight of the innings was a 399-run stand for the sixth wicket between Stokes and Bairstow. South Africa replied with a like score of 627/7 declared. The match ended in a draw with an England second innings of a score of 159/6.
WR HammondWR Hammond (10)
land top-order batter Wally Hammond hit 10 sixes and 34 fours in March 1933 in a Test innings versus New Zealand in Auckland. It was the second Test of a two-match series. It remained a record for the most sixes in a Test innings until broken by Wasim Akram in 1996. The home side batted first and were bowled out for 158. In reply, England made 548/7 declared, thanks largely to Hammond’s knock of 336 not out. In the process, Hammond also established a record for the highest score in Tests which would later be broken by Gary Sobers in 1958. The match was drawn after a rain intervention, with the home side’s second innings scorecard reading 16 for no loss.
Summary
<Summary
kram’s record for the most sixes in a Test innings by a player ever be broken? We think it’s unlikely in an era that contains few batters who can bat for long durations.
BB McCullum (11)
rmer New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum hit 11 sixes and 21 fours in a knock of 202 versus Pakistan in Sharjah in November 2014. In the last of a three-match series, Pakistan batted first and scored 351. McCullum’s runs came during a 2nd-wicket stand of 298 with Kane Williamson. On the back of McCullum’s knock, New Zealand scored 690. In their second innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 259, giving the tourists victory by an innings and 80 runs.BB McCBB McCullum (11)
New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum hit 11 sixes in a Test innings for the second time within a month during a knock of 195 versus Sri Lanka in Christchurch in December 2014. The innings which came in the first Test of a two-match series also contained 30 fours. Batting first in the game, the hosts scored 441 on the back of McCullum’s knock. New Zealand imposed the follow-on after bowling out the visitors for 138. In their second innings, Sri Lanka made 407, setting the home side a target of 105 to win. The Kiwis knocked off the required runs, losing only two wickets in the process.
BA StokeBA Stokes (11)
England allrounder Ben Stokes smashed 11 sixes and 30 fours in an innings of 258 versus South Africa, in Cape Town, in January 2016, in the second Test of a four-match series. England batted first and scored 629/6 declared on the back of Stokes’s knock. The highlight of the innings was a 399-run stand for the sixth wicket between Stokes and Bairstow. South Africa replied with a like score of 627/7 declared. The match ended in a draw with an England second innings of a score of 159/6.
WR HammondWR Hammond (10)
land top-order batter Wally Hammond hit 10 sixes and 34 fours in March 1933 in a Test innings versus New Zealand in Auckland. It was the second Test of a two-match series. It remained a record for the most sixes in a Test innings until broken by Wasim Akram in 1996. The home side batted first and were bowled out for 158. In reply, England made 548/7 declared, thanks largely to Hammond’s knock of 336 not out. In the process, Hammond also established a record for the highest score in Tests which would later be broken by Gary Sobers in 1958. The match was drawn after a rain intervention, with the home side’s second innings scorecard reading 16 for no loss.
Summary
<Summary
kram’s record for the most sixes in a Test innings by a player ever be broken? We think it’s unlikely in an era that contains few batters who can bat for long durations.
BA Stokes (11)
England allrounder Ben Stokes smashed 11 sixes and 30 fours in an innings of 258 versus South Africa, in Cape Town, in January 2016, in the second Test of a four-match series. England batted first and scored 629/6 declared on the back of Stokes’s knock. The highlight of the innings was a 399-run stand for the sixth wicket between Stokes and Bairstow. South Africa replied with a like score of 627/7 declared. The match ended in a draw with an England second innings of a score of 159/6.WR HammondWR Hammond (10)
land top-order batter Wally Hammond hit 10 sixes and 34 fours in March 1933 in a Test innings versus New Zealand in Auckland. It was the second Test of a two-match series. It remained a record for the most sixes in a Test innings until broken by Wasim Akram in 1996. The home side batted first and were bowled out for 158. In reply, England made 548/7 declared, thanks largely to Hammond’s knock of 336 not out. In the process, Hammond also established a record for the highest score in Tests which would later be broken by Gary Sobers in 1958. The match was drawn after a rain intervention, with the home side’s second innings scorecard reading 16 for no loss.
Summary
<Summary
kram’s record for the most sixes in a Test innings by a player ever be broken? We think it’s unlikely in an era that contains few batters who can bat for long durations.
| Player | Team | Sixes | Innings | Rival | Venue | Date |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 12 | 257* | Zimbabwe | Sheikhupura | 17 Oct 1996 |
| NJ Astle | New Zealand | 11 | 222 | England | Christchurch | 13 Mar 2002 |
| ML Hayden | Australia | 11 | 380 | Zimbabwe | Perth | 9 Oct 2003 |
| BB McCullum | New Zealand | 11 | 202 | Pakistan | Sharjah | 26 November 2014 |
| BB McCullum | New Zealand | 11 | 195 | Sri Lanka | Christchurch | 26 December 2014 |
| BA Stokes | England | 11 | 258 | South Africa | Cape Town | 1 Jan 2016 |
| WR Hammond | England | 10 | 336* | New Zealand | Auckland | 31 Mar 1933 |
| CL Cairns | New Zealand | 9 | 120 | Zimbabwe | Auckland | 20 Jan 1996 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 9 | 329 | New Zealand | Lahore | 1 May 2002 |
| TG Southee | New Zealand | 9 | 77* | England | Napier | 22 Mar 2008 |
| CH Gayle | West Indies | 9 | 333 | Sri Lanka | Galle | 15 Nov 2010 |