Who doesn’t like to see raining sixes all around the park? In today’s fast-paced world, the game of cricket, too, has gotten faster. Batters nowadays can hit sixes at will. It pleases one’s eyes to see a humongous six. Some batters have had a knack for hitting mammoth sixes of more than 100 m. Sometimes we wonder the team should get 8 runs for such a huge six. Let us have a look at the Top 10 Biggest Sixes In International Cricket-
1. Brett Lee (Australia)
Brett Lee is one of the quickest bowlers in the history of cricket. As a bowler, he constantly uses and hence understands Newton’s Third Law of Motion. In a Test match against West Indies at The Gabba in 2005, Lee smashed Daren Powell for a long six. Many experts claim the distance of the six to be 130-135 m.
2. Jacob Oram (New Zealand)
Jacob Oram was a Kiwi all-rounder who could take crucial wickets and score crucial runs. But his power was a different story. In an ODI against Australia in 2005 at Christchurch, New Zealand was chasing 332 to win. In the 40th over of the chase, Oram smashed Stuart Clark for a 130+ m six. New Zealand eventually won the match by 2 wickets.
3. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
Martin Guptill was at his hitting best against South Africa in a T20I at Wellington in 2012. In the 6th over of the 2nd innings, Guptill hit Lonwabo Tsotsobe for a huge 102-meter six. Two balls later, he smashed Tsotsobe for an even bigger 127-meter six over deep mid-wicket. The commentators went berserk after this shot.
4. Corey Anderson (New Zealand)
Corey Anderson has the record for the 2nd fastest ODI hundred (36 balls). This cannot be done without the six-hitting prowess. In the first ODI against India in Napier in 2014, Corey Anderson hit Mohammad Shami for a 122-meter six over deep mid-wicket. Such huge was the shot that even Shami was shocked beyond belief.
5. Mark Waugh (Australia)
Steve Waugh was a great Australia batter. But his twin brother, Mark, was no less. He had all the textbook shots in his armoury. In a Test match against New Zealand in 1997 at Perth, he smashed Daniel Vettori for a 122-meter six down the ground. The ball landed on the roof of the pavilion on the opposite side.
6. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
In an ODI against South Africa in 2013 at Johannesburg, Shahid Afridi was bowled by Ryan McLaren. But McLaren had overstepped. On the free-hit, Afridi clobbered McLaren for a 120-meter six. The ball sailed over all the audience sitting behind long-on and bounced on the roof of the stadium.
7. Yuvraj Singh (India)
Yuvraj Singh was fresh after smashing 6 sixes in an over against England 2-matches ago. India met Australia in the semi-final of the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007. In the first innings, Singh smashed Brett Lee for a huge 119-meter six, which went to the Kingsmead crowd in the square leg region. His 30-ball-70 helped India advance to the Final.
8. MS Dhoni (India)
MS Dhoni pulverized Grant Elliott for a 118-meter six over long-on. This huge six came in the 3rd ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2009. Dhoni smacked a half-volley about 30 rows into the stands en route his 58-ball-68. He supported Sachin Tendulkar’s 163* to help India post 392/4.
9. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Shahid Afridi played a 30-run cameo against Australia in 2005 in Perth. In his knock, he hit Andrew Symonds for a huge 117-meter six. Pakistan eventually won the match by 3 wickets and 16 balls remaining.
10. Chris Gayle (West Indies)
In a 2010 T20 World Cup match against India at Bridgetown, Chris Gayle bludgeoned Yusuf Pathan for a 116-meter six that dropped on the roof of the Kensington Oval. Gayle smashed 98 in the match and then took a wicket to help West Indies seal a 14-run victory.
