When it comes to Test cricket, six-hitting is not necessarily a skill that batters must have. Even if they are good at it, the situation may not demand them to go for the big hits frequently. Only cricketers such as Brendon McCullum did that consistently in Tests. For the lower-order batters, though, they have the license to go for big shots and a few of them come off. In fact, some of them get trained in the power-hitting ability to add some useful runs with an all-out on the horizon. With regards to Australia, too, there have been many pure pacers who have hit sixes consistently. On that note, here, we take a look at three Australian pace bowlers who have scored the most sixes in Test history.
1) Mitchell Starc – 45 sixes in 75 matches*
Interestingly, Mitchell Starc currently stands at No.7 for Australia when it comes to the most sixes hit in Tests, till now. At No.1 is Adam Gilchrist, who finished his career with 100 sixes.
Starc’s batting abilities are well-known. On many occasions, he has even pulled Australia out of the hole with the bat. With skills already in hand and with a license given, it is actually not a surprise that he features on this list.
2) Mitchell Johnson – 31 sixes in 73 matches
Mitchell Johnson is one of the Australian pace bowlers who have scored the most sixes in Test history. Not many remember but Mitchell Johnson actually was a decent lower-order batter for the Aussies.
He finished his career with an average of 22, which is actually pretty good for a specialist pacer. In fact, the left-arm pacer even has an unbeaten Test century to his name.
3) Pat Cummins – 18 sixes in 48 matches
In recent years, we often come across games when Pat Cummins would help Australia both with the bat and the ball. Hence, he also makes a presence on this list.
The current Australian skipper, though, has a great chance to climb the ranks on this list. He has a lot of years of batting left and with game time guaranteed, he could at least set a target to become No.1 on this list of most sixes by pacers.
