Stats: Most sixes in an innings in Test cricket

Almost two decades ago, Wasim Akram hit the most sixes in an innings in Test cricket. We are currently in an era where T20 cricket has become very popular, but still Wasim’s record stands. Now we will take a look at the top 5 list of most sixes in an innings in Tests by a single batsman.

Wasim hit 12 sixes en route to his career best 257 against Zimbabwe.

Player	Oppostion	Runs	Sixes	Year
Wasim Akram (PAK)	Zimbabwe	257*	12	1996
Nathan Astle (NZ)	England	222	11	2002
Matthew Hayden (AUS)	Zimbabwe	380	11	2003
Wally Hammond (ENG)	New Zealand	336*	10	1933
Chris Cairns (NZ)	Zimbabwe	120	9	1996

?1. Wasim Akram (12 sixes)

We all knew that the legend could bat, but none of us expected him to go on and make a 250 plus score in Test cricket, something even greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis did not achieve in their careers. In fact, he remained not out before he declared the innings, so in all probability, Wasim might have even scored a triple century that day against the visiting Zimbabweans. He broke a long standing record held by English great Wally Hammond when he hit his eleventh six and finally added one more. In the end, the resilient Zimbabweans forced a hard fought draw.

?2. Nathan Astle (11 sixes)

Astle played one of the most astonishing innings one would ever see in Test cricket on that day at Christchurch. It was one of the most memorable Tests with England winning by 98 runs in the end, but not before the drama provided by Astle and Cairns who put on 118 for the last wicket. Astle in that process scored the fastest double ton in the history of Test cricket which came off just 153 balls. He finally got out for 222 which had 11 sixes.

?3. Matthew Hayden (11 sixes)

Hayden broke a decade long world record held by the legendary Lara, and six months later, Lara took back the record. But that knock from Hayden was so powerful that it contained eleven sixes in that innings and hence is at number 3 in our list. He scored 380 at Perth in a game against Zimbabwe at a strike rate of 86.95. Australia made 735 in their only innings and won the match comfortably by an innings and 175 runs.

?4. Wally Hammond (10 sixes)

It really is amazing when you realise that a batsman hit ten sixes in a Test innings way back in 1933. Wally Hammond, regarded as one of the best batsman to have graced the game actually went past the then highest score in Test cricket set by Sir Don Bradman. Hammond punished the New Zealand bowlers throughout a day to go past 300 which included 10 sixes. But in the end, rain had the final say as the Test got washed out.

?5. Chris Cairns (9 sixes)

At one point of time, Cairns held the record for hitting the most sixes in Test cricket, before being surpassed by Gilchrist, who is the current record holder. This was a Test where Cairns clearly stamped his authority with the bat. In the first innings he scored a fifty, but Zimbabwe had taken a sizeable lead. In the second innings though, he exploded with a quick fire hundred that had nine sixes in it. The Test ended in a draw.