by Every sport has its daredevils. Football has its trick-shot specialists. Basketball has its slam-dunk artists. Cricket has its boundary clearers.
But clearing boundaries in Test cricket? That’s different. That takes special courage.
You’re not playing a three-hour game. You’re in a five-day battle. Every decision matters. Every shot carries weight. One mistake and you’re walking back to the pavilion.
Most batters play it safe. They defend. They accumulate runs slowly. They build innings over sessions and days.
Then there are the others. The ones who see a scoring opportunity and take it. Who backs their power. Who trust their timing. Who refuse to let bowlers settle.
These players changed cricket. They made the longest format entertaining. They proved that aggression and patience can coexist.
The most sixes in test matches were hit by players with perfect combinations of skill and bravery.
Not reckless slogging. Not mindless hitting. Calculated aggression at its finest.
This detailed guide examines their records. Their approaches. Their impact on the game.
From wicketkeepers to tail-enders, from openers to all-rounders—courage came in many forms.
Each six they hit told a story. Each boundary cleared inspired teammates. Each record set challenged future generations.
Top 10 Batsmen with Most Sixes in Test
Ready to explore these remarkable achievements?
What is a Six in Test Cricket?
Let’s start simple. A six is when a batter hits the ball, and it crosses the boundary rope without touching the ground. The team gets six runs instantly.
In cricket, there are three main formats:
- Test Cricket – Matches last up to 5 days
- ODI Cricket – One-day matches (50 overs per side)
- T20 Cricket – Short matches (20 overs per side)
Test cricket is the longest and hardest format. Why? Because:
Test Cricket Challenges:
- The red ball swings more thanthe white ball
- Matches go on for days, not hours
- Bowlers have time to plan their attacks
- Fields are set defensively
- One mistake can cost your wicket
- You need concentration for hours
So hitting sixes in Tests is much harder than hitting them in T20s or ODIs.
Why Sixes Matter:
- They score quick runs
- They put pressure on bowlers
- They excite the crowd
- They can change the match momentum
- They show a batter’s courage
The most sixes in test cricket belong to players who combined skill with bravery. They didn’t just defend—they attacked!
Let’s meet the top 10 six-hitters in Test history.
Top 10 Most Sixes in Test Cricket: The Complete List
Here’s who hit the most sixes in Test matches:
| Rank | Player Name | Country | Matches | Total Runs | Sixes | Still Playing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Stokes | England | 115 | 7,032 | 136 | Yes |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 101 | 6,453 | 107 | No |
| 3 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 96 | 5,570 | 100 | No |
| 4 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 107 | 1,224 | 98 | Yes |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 103 | 7,214 | 98 | No |
| 6 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 166 | 13,289 | 97 | No |
| 7 | Rishabh Pant | India | 48 | 3,456 | 93 | Yes |
| 8 | Virender Sehwag | India | 104 | 8,586 | 91 | No |
| 9 | Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 119 | 7,821 | 90 | Yes |
| 10 | Rohit Sharma | India | 67 | 4,302 | 88 | Yes |
Understanding Each Player (Simple Explanations)
1. Ben Stokes (England) – 136 Sixes
Ben Stokes is England’s current captain. He’s an all-rounder who bats, bowls, and fields amazingly.
Why He’s Special: Stokes hits sixes in pressure situations. When England needs quick runs, he delivers. His most famous knock was 135* at Headingley, where he won an impossible match against Australia.
Fun Fact: He’s still playing, so this number keeps growing!
2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 107 Sixes
“Baz” McCullum changed how people viewed Test cricket. Before him, Tests were slow and defensive.
Why He’s Special: McCullum attacked from the first ball. He once scored the fastest Test fifty—just 20 balls! His 302 against India was New Zealand’s first triple century.
Fun Fact: His aggressive style inspired “Bazball”—the attacking cricket England plays now.
3. Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 100 Sixes
Gilchrist was a wicketkeeper-batsman. That means he had two jobs—keeping wickets and batting powerfully.
Why He’s Special: He batted at number 7, so the ball was old when he came in. Then he’d destroy tired bowlers with fast scoring. Strike rate of 81.95 in Tests is super aggressive!
Fun Fact: Exactly 100 sixes—a perfect round number for a perfect player.
4. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 98 Sixes
Wait, a bowler is 4th on this list? Yes! Southee is primarily a fast bowler, not a batter.
Why He’s Special: Southee bats at 9 or 10. His job is simple: hit or get out. So he swings hard at everything. His batting average is only 15.48, but he’s hit 98 sixes!
Fun Fact: It proves you don’t need perfect technique to clear boundaries—just courage.
5. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 98 Sixes
The “Universe Boss” is famous for T20 cricket. But in Tests? Equally dangerous.
Why He’s Special: Gayle opened batting—meaning he faced brand new balls that swing. Most openers play carefully. Not Gayle! He attacked from ball one. His 333 against Sri Lanka included countless sixes.
Fun Fact: If Gayle played more Tests, he’d easily be number 1 on this list.
6. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 97 Sixes
Kallis is one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders. Batted brilliantly, bowled fast, caught everything.
Why He’s Special: Unlike others who swung at everything, Kallis was patient. He waited for bad balls, then punished them. Played 166 Test matches—most on this entire list!
Fun Fact: Averaged 55.37, one of the best batting averages in history.
7. Rishabh Pant (India) – 93 Sixes
Pant is only 27 years old and has played just 48 Tests. Yet he’s already hit 93 sixes!
Why He’s Special: That’s almost 2 sixes per Test match—crazy rate! Pant counterattacks when India struggles. His 159* in Australia while injured was heroic.
Fun Fact: At this rate, he’ll break Ben Stokes’ record easily if he stays injury-free.
8. Virender Sehwag (India) – 91 Sixes
Sehwag’s motto was simple: “See ball, hit ball.” He played Test cricket like street cricket.
Why He’s Special: He was an opening batsman who attacked everything. Scored two triple centuries (300+ runs) with aggressive batting. Made world-class bowlers look ordinary.
Fun Fact: Changed how India approached Test cricket—from defensive to aggressive.
9. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 90 Sixes
Mathews is Sri Lanka’s most reliable all-rounder. Bats, bowls, and has captained the team.
Why He’s Special: He builds innings carefully, then hits sixes when set. Scored 90 sixes on slow Sri Lankan pitches, where hitting sixes is very tough.
Fun Fact: Still playing, so could reach 100 sixes soon.
10. Rohit Sharma (India) – 88 Sixes
Rohit “Hitman” Sharma is known for elegant batting. Holds the record for most ODI double centuries.
Why He’s Special: His sixes come from perfect timing, not brute force. Started playing Tests regularly only after the age of 30. Imagine if he’d played more earlier!
Fun Fact: Currently India’s white-ball captain and still scoring in Tests.
Most Sixes in Test by Indian Batsmen
India has produced many aggressive Test batters:
Top 5 Indians:
- Rishabh Pant – 93 sixes (48 matches) – Still playing
- Virender Sehwag – 91 sixes (104 matches) – Retired
- Rohit Sharma – 88 sixes (67 matches) – Still playing
- MS Dhoni – 78 sixes (90 matches) – Retired
- Hardik Pandya – 40 sixes (11 matches) – Still playing
Why India Dominates Six-Hitting:
- Indian pitches help batting
- IPL (Indian Premier League) teaches aggressive cricket
- Young players watch and learn from Sehwag, Dhoni, and Pant
- Modern Indian cricket encourages fearless batting
Key Point: Pant leads despite playing the fewest matches. His six-per-match ratio is incredible!
Both Pant and Rohit are still playing, so these numbers will keep growing.
Most Sixes in Test Innings by a Player: Big Knocks
Some innings produce lots of sixes in one match:
| Player | Score | Match | Approximate Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | 302 | vs India 2014 | 12+ |
| Chris Gayle | 333 | vs Sri Lanka 2010 | 10+ |
| Ben Stokes | 258 | vs South Africa 2016 | 8+ |
| Virender Sehwag | 319 | vs South Africa 2008 | 7+ |
What This Means:
When batters are in “god mode,” they clear boundaries repeatedly in a single inning. These knocks become legendary. Fans remember them forever.
Key Point: The most sixes in a test innings by a player doesn’t always set records. But it creates unforgettable cricket moments.
Most Sixes in Test Series: Dominating Tournaments
Some Test series see batters hit sixes consistently across multiple matches:
Famous Six-Heavy Series:
- Ben Stokes in the 2019 Ashes (England vs Australia): Stokes hit crucial sixes throughout the series. His Headingley innings included massive hits that won the match impossibly.
- Brendon McCullum vs India 2014: McCullum’s 302 was part of this series. He set an aggressive tone. New Zealand played fearlessly throughout.
- Chris Gayle vs Bangladesh 2012: Gayle’s 333 headlined this series. He treated Test bowling like practice. Most sixes in a test series during that time.
- Rishabh Pant in Australia 2018-19: Pant counter-attacked in both Sydney and Melbourne. His sixes helped India win their first-ever Test series in Australia—historic!
- Why Series Matter: Hitting sixes in one innings is great. But dominating an entire series with six-hitting? That’s legendary status.
Most Sixes in Test 2025: What’s Happening Now?
The cricket world keeps changing. Here’s the 2025 update:
Active Players Still Climbing:
- Rishabh Pant (93 sixes) – Could easily reach 150+ sixes if injury-free
- Ben Stokes (136 sixes) – Still adding more as England captain
- Rohit Sharma (88 sixes) – Limited time left but still dangerous
- Harry Brook (35 sixes) – Young English batter rising fast
- Travis Head (42 sixes) – Australian left-hander climbing quickly
Rising Stars to Watch:
- Harry Brook (England): Only 25 years old. Averages 60+ in Tests. Plays very aggressively. Could hit 100+ sixes by age 30.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (India): India’s exciting new opener. Just 23 years old. Already showing six-hitting ability. Future superstar.
- Travis Head (Australia): Left-handed batter with fearless approach. Has 42 sixes already in limited matches. Could climb fast.
- 2025 Prediction: Rishabh Pant will probably pass Sehwag and Rohit within 2-3 years. If he avoids injuries, he could challenge Ben Stokes’ record by 2030.
Harry Brook might become England’s next big six-hitter after Stokes retires.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Q: What’s the difference between hitting sixes in Tests vs T20s?
In Tests, you need to be more careful. Matches last 5 days. Getting out affects the team badly. In T20s, you can swing at everything—matches last only 3 hours. Test sixes require better timing and smarter decisions.
- Q: Why do bowlers hit so many sixes?
Bowlers like Tim Southee bat at positions 9 or 10. They know they’ll probably get out anyway. So instead of defending, they swing hard. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s fun to watch!
- Q: Can a player hit sixes and still have a good average?
Absolutely! Jacques Kallis hit 97 sixes and averaged 55.37—one of the best. Adam Gilchrist averaged 47.60 with 100 sixes. You can be aggressive AND smart at the same time.
- Q: Who might break Ben Stokes’ record?
Rishabh Pant has the best chance. He’s only 27 and already has 93 sixes in just 48 matches. If he plays 120+ Tests, he could reach 200+ sixes easily. Harry Brook is another future threat.
- Q: Why is hitting sixes in Tests considered brave?
Because it’s risky. One mistake and you’re out. Your team might lose. Coaches usually tell batters to play it safe. But these legends trusted their skills and hit sixes anyway. That takes real courage.
- Q: Which country produces the most six-hitters?
India currently leads with three players in the top 10 (Pant, Sehwag, Rohit). England, New Zealand, and Australia also produce aggressive batters. The IPL (Indian Premier League) teaches players to hit big from a young age.
- Q: Do sixes help teams win matches?
Yes! Quick runs through sixes can change the match momentum completely. They put pressure on bowlers. They excite crowds. They help set up declarations (when captains decide to stop batting). Most match-winning knocks include crucial sixes.
Final Thoughts: Why Six-Hitting Makes Cricket Exciting
Test cricket used to be slow and boring. People preferred T20s and ODIs because they had more action.
Then players like Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Rishabh Pant, and Virender Sehwag arrived. They said: “We’ll give you action in Tests too!”
They proved that Test cricket can be exciting AND patient at the same time.
What We Learned:
- The most sixes in test cricket are 136 by Ben Stokes
- Indian players dominate the six-hitting charts
- Even bowlers can hit sixes if they’re brave
- Aggressive batting saved Test cricket from dying
- Young players like Pant and Brook will break more records
Next time you watch a Test match, wait for that special moment. When a batter connects perfectly and the ball soars into the crowd. That’s pure cricket magic!
These ten legends proved that courage beats caution. That entertainment and excellence work together. Test cricket will always thrill us as long as brave hearts keep swinging.
Welcome to the exciting world of Test cricket!
