Boundaries are tests are not at all frequent. Test cricket is a game of patience, dedication, and enthusiasm. Unlike other formats of cricket, cricketers avoid playing aggressively. Cricketers get an ample amount of time so they make sure to use it wisely without any hurry or wrong decisions. Therefore the boundaries are very rare in a test match. In a test match on an average of 10 sixes are hit by the cricketers. In many matches, the cricketers couldn't even score 1 six. Let's check out the cricketers with the most sixes in the test. An interesting fact about this list of top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in Test cricket is that none of the cricketers are active players of their international teams right now. They have retired at some point in time.

1. Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum tops the list by being the cricketer with the most sixes in test. The former cricketer of New Zealand made his debut in 2004 and played 101 matches till his retirement in 2016. He smashed 107 sixes in the test cricket. Not only this, he became the cricketer to score the fastest test century in the Test history. He is considered as one of the fittest players of the modern time. No wonders why he became the first cricketer to appear in 100 consecutive test matches since his debut. Also he is the first Kiwi cricketer to score a triple century.

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2. Adam Gilchrist

Aggression was probably Gilchrist's biggest power. He could single-handedly destroy the opposition bowling lineup with his aggressive and attacking batting. Not to mention he is one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman in the history of cricket. Both batting and wicket-keeping like a pro were something that glued the audience to the screen every time he was on the field. He was definitely the biggest game-changer and impactful player of the Australian Cricket team of his time. Since his Test debut in 1999, he played 96 matches till 2008 and smashed a total of 106 sixes.

3. Chris Gayle

Have you ever watched cricket if you haven't seen Gayle smashing sixes most effortlessly? The former Caribbean cricketer did not show mercy to the bowlers in any forms of cricket. Definition of Chris Gayle on the field means boundaries everywhere. He is known for being one of the best hitters ever. Gayle is the first cricketer to score a century in all three formats of cricket. He made his Test debut in 2008 and played till 2014. During this time he appeared in 103 test matches and scored 98 sixes.

4. Jacques Kaliis

Hands down he is the greatest all-rounder of all time. Be it batting, bowling, or bowling, Kallis did everything effortlessly. Only four players have scored 5 consecutive Test centuries and he is one of them. Since his test debut in 1995, he played 166 test matches till 2013 and scored 97 sixes. He proved his skills every time and took the South African team out of trouble in the best way possible.

5. Virender Sehwag

In the early 2000s, the term "Aggression" justified the performance of Virender Sehwag on the field. The former Indian cricketer had some other connection with boundaries. He could stand on the pitch and smash the opponents effortlessly. Also, he scored runs at the fastest pace in Test matches. The highest score by an Indian player in Test cricket is 319 runs and the holder of this record is Virendra Sehwag. Out of his 23 test centuries he scored 150+ runs in 13 of them. He was often considered not suitable for Test for his aggressive approach on the field, but he proofed everyone wrong and became the fifth cricketer to smash most International sixes. In 104 test matches, he scored 91 sixes.

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6. Brian Lara

Brian Lara is one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. The holder of uncountable Test records is Brian Lara. He is the first captain to score the highest test runs (400*). Right after Matthew Hayden, he scored 1000 test runs in 5 years. Before Sachin Tendulkar, he was the leading run-scorer in Test cricket. He is also the scorer of the most century as a West Indies cricketer. The list of his International records can continue till infinity. After his debut in 1990, he played 131 test matches till 2006 and scored 88 test sixes.

7. Chris Cairns

Chris Cairns is considered as one of the the best all rounders and a legend in cricket. In test cricket, he scored more than 3000 runs and picked up to 18 wickets. Though he made his test debut in 1989 but he played in the best form from 1999-2000. He has been the savior of the New Zealand team many times. In in 62 test matches from 1989 to 2004, he showed extraordinary performance and scored 87 sixes.

8. Vivian Richards

One of the greatest and well-known cricketers in cricket history is Sir Vivian Richards. His batting style was aggressive and it was something that was not at all common in the 1970 and 80s. He literally destroyed the opposition bowling lineups all the time. During that period he scored 8000+ Test runs with 50+ average and 24 centuries. No wonders why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen. He scored 84 test sixes in 121 test matches from 1974 to 1991.

9. Andrew Flintoff

One of the best all-rounders of the England cricket team is Andrew Flintoff. One of the best moments of his test career is when he single-handedly saved England and won the 2005 Ashes series. Starting from scoring tons to picking crucial wickets, he did it all for the team. Census test debut in 1998 he played 79 test matches in 2009 and scored 82 sixes.

10. Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden is till date one of the best batsman of Australian Cricket team. During his time, he was one of the biggest assets of the team. His initial days of the career where not bright but his career took a turn from 2001. Hayden was well known for his skills to score fast at Test cricket and ODI as well. He started playing Test cricket in 1994 and played 103 matches till his retirement in 2009. During the span of 15 years he scored 82 test sixes.

Indian batters have showcased an impressive six-hitting record in the history of test cricket, etching their names among the big hitters around the world. It represents not just power, but a fearless approach in the longest format.

Some of India's most celebrated cricketers have taken this record for most sixes in tests to another level, having smashed an unparalleled number of sixes. Focusing on the current standings, Rishabh Pant is the one name growing rapidly to the top, surpassing Dhoni's record.

Find out who hit the most sixes for India in tests, and how close Pant is to claiming the top spot.

Read Also: Most sixes in a Test innings

Most sixes for India in Tests

1. Virender Sehwag | 90 sixes

The former Indian cricketer, Virender Sehwag, has hit the most sixes for India in tests. His six-hitting approach was defined by a dominant mindset, where he would take on a bowler in the very first over if he wanted.

Sehwag smashed 90 sixes for India in test format, spanning from 2001 to 2013. This came across 103 test matches (178 innings) and has been unmatched over a decade.

2. Rishabh Pant | 88 sixes

Rishabh Pant has rapidly climbed up in the elite list of six-hitters, recently levelling up Rohit Sharma's numbers with 88 sixes in tests. He also became the player with most sixes (36 sixes) against England in tests, surpassing Viv Richards' record.

Pant's immense power and confidence in the format is really exciting to watch. He is only 3 big hits away from surpassing Sehwag and becoming the player with most sixes for India in tests.

He reached to this spot in just 46 matches (80 innings), which shows how he is capable of taking this record to the highest level with his one-handed flicks, aggressive sweeps, and powerful pulls.

Read Also: Indian players to record two hundreds in a Test match

3. Rohit Sharma | 88 sixes

Rohit Sharma put an end to his test career with an astounding 88 sixes for India in 67 matches (116 innings). From his test debut as a middle-order batsman to transitioning into one of the best test openers for India, he kept his big-hitting prowess alive throughout.

Sharma's ability to read lengths early and deliver the ball effortlessly to the stands was phenomenal. Given that he holds the record for the most international sixes across all formats, his position within his nation's top 5 in Test cricket is certainly not a surprise.

Read Also: Who can break Rohit’s six-hitting record?

4. MS Dhoni | 78 sixes

MS Dhoni holds the 4th spot for most sixes for India in tests, having 78 sixes across 90 matches (144 innings). Renowned for his "helicopter shot," which delivered the ball soaring over long-on or mid-wicket, his strength lay in his powerful forearms and lower body.

Dhoni often converted decent deliveries into maximums, in order to shift the pressure at crucial times for India.

5. Ravindra Jadeja | 73 sixes

Being the only all-rounder in the list of most sixes for India in tests, Ravindra Jadeja, with 73 sixes to his name, needs to be given the appreciation he truly deserves. He achieved those numbers in only 83 matches (123 innings).

Jadeja is the second player, after Pant, to have an ongoing test career among the Top 5, which indicates his potential to surpass Dhoni's record. Considering his current pace, the day he breaks records and climbs higher on the list doesn't seem far off.

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Most Sixes for India in Tests (Top 20)

Hitting a six is widely considered to be one of the biggest game-changing abilities that a batter could possess in modern-day cricket. You can back players to hit maximums at all the best betting sites in India and, with the popularity of the sport largely moved away from the classic five-day-long format to limited-overs cricket, the significance of big hitters today cannot be stressed enough. That said, here's a list of batsmen with the Most Sixes in International Cricket. 

Also Read: Most Sixes in ODI Cricket History

#1. Chris Gayle | 553 sixes

Universe Boss Chris Gayle has hit 98 sixes in 103 Test matches, 331 sixes in 301 ODIs, and 124 sixes in 79 T20Is.

Making his international debut in 1999, the towering West Indies opener has mostly dealt in sixes. Chris Gayle holds the record for the most number of sixes in international cricket with 553 from 483 matches across all three formats. This means that the Universe Boss has scored 3,318 runs out of his 19,594-run tally in sixes alone.

#2. Rohit Sharma | 485* sixes

Star Indian opener Rohit Sharma has made quite a name for himself for his effortless six-hitting ability. Making his debut in 2007, Rohit Sharma has played 414 matches so far, where he has hit 485* sixes. Aptly nicknamed the 'Hitman,' Sharma has scored 2,910 out of his current run tally of 17,000 runs in sixes.

Read Also: Test Cricket Records: Most Sixes in Test

Rohit Sharma has played 45 Test matches so far and has managed to hit 64 sixes in them. His record, quite unsurprisingly, gets better in limited-overs cricket, where he has hit 250 sixes in 233 ODIs and 171 sixes in 136 T20Is. Amongst active cricketers, Rohit Sharma has hit the most number of sixes.

#3. Shahid Afridi | 476 sixes

The former Pakistan all-rounder was yet another individual who liked to score only in maximums. Shahid Afridi, a middle-order batsman who made his debut in 1996, featured in 524 international matches. Afridi hit a total of 476 sixes on the international stage, bringing up 2,856 of his 11,196 run-tally in sixes.

Afridi played only 27 Test matches in his career but managed to hit 52 sixes in them. However, his six-hitting ability shone the brightest in the 50-over format, where he hit a whopping 351 sixes in 398 ODIs. The twenty-over format suited his style as well, where Afridi slogged 73 sixes in 99 T20Is. 

Also Read: Fastest to reach 12000 international runs as an opener

Players with Most Sixes in International Cricket:

N.B: The stats and records are accurate as of 06/09/2022.

Newly appointed England skipper Ben Stokes has achieved yet another record in the longest format of the game. He becomes only the third cricketer to smash 100 sixes in Test cricket after current English head coach Brendon McCullum and Australian great Adam Gilchrist.

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Ben Stokes achieved this feat yesterday in the ongoing match against New Zealand at Leeds, Headingley. He has now registered 100 sixes in Test cricket in just 151 innings.

In 151 innings, Ben Stokes has amassed 5255 Test runs at an average of 36.24. The 31-year-old has also recorded 11 centuries and 28 half-centuries in the format.

The top spot is occupied by the current head coach of England and former Kiwi opener, Brendon McCullum. McCullum has recorded 107 sixes in 176 innings while aggregating 6453 runs in the format. Former Australia keeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is at the second with the same amount of sixes as Ben Stokes.

White ball specialist Chris Gayle is in the fourth position on this list with 98 sixes in 182 innings.

The last one on this list is former South African legend all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who registered 97 sixes in 280 innings. Meanwhile, Kalis has smashed 13,289 runs in the format. Let's take a look at the top 5 players on this list of players with the most sixes in Test cricket.

Most Sixes in Test Cricket

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Will Ben Stokes reach the top of this list in the future? Predict and tell us the comments.