Many pundits claim that Test cricket is the purest form of the gentleman’s game. The complex technicalities of the longest format of the game present the players with the most difficult test that there is to prove your caliber. The power-hitting of T20 cricket doesn’t necessarily guarantee success in Test cricket.
However, stats will show that some of those big-hitters, who are known most for their sending the cricket balls to the orbit, have had good Test careers. These players did not use a completely different formula for this format, but rather chose to be their usual self and play the aggressive brand of cricket.
Let us have a look at 5 players with most sixes in Test history:
1. Brendon McCullum – 107
There cannot be a better person on the top of this list. The Kiwi legend Brendon McCullum has had a celebrated career, where he has won numerous trophies. Though considered for mainly his prowess in limited overs format, he was also successful in Tests.
McCullum has over 6400 runs in Test cricket. He has scored 12 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format of the game. Speaking of sixes, he has hit the most of them in Test cricket – 107. It must be mentioned that he has also struck a staggering 776 fours in this format.
2. Adam Gilchrist – 100
Adam Gilchrist, a cricketer who has won it all, was also known for his aggressive brand of cricket. Be it T20Is, ODIs or Test cricket, Gilchrist enjoyed dominating the bowlers and sending them for a ride all around the park.
He played 96 Test matches in his career, in which he has scored over 5500 runs. The Aussie cricketer has an average of almost 50 and has scored as many as 17 centuries in Test cricket. He has scored 100 sixes in Test cricket.
3. Chris Gayle – 98
The Universe Boss is known for what he has achieved in T20Is, and to some extent, in ODIs. Unfortunately, his successful Test career is often overlooked by pundits and fans alike. The Caribbean superstar has played 103 Test matches in his career.
In those games, Gayle scored over 7214. He had a brilliant average of over 40. Gayle has 15 Test centuries and 37 Test half-centuries to his name. He has hit 98 sixes in Test cricket, just 2 behind Adam Gilchrist. Gayle has struck over 1000 fours in Test cricket, which only goes on to show that he has been a dominant force in every format of the game.
4. Jacques Kallis – 97
This might be the first name that will surprise some people. Jacques Kallis was known for a lot of things, but aggressive batting was not one of those. However, the calm and composed cricketer has hit loads of sixes in Test cricket.
He has over 13000 Test runs in his name from 166 games. He has a phenomenal average of over 55. The Protean has 45 Test centuries and 58 Test half-centuries registered to his name. He has struck 97 sixes in Tests,
5. Virender Sehwag – 91
This list would be incomplete without Virender Sehwag in it. The Nawab of Najafgarh is one of the best big-hitters that India has ever produced. He has played 104 Test matches, in which he has scored over 8500 runs.
Sehwag was an average of nearly 50 and has 23 Test centuries to his name. The owner of a magnificent score of 319 has struck 91 sixes in Test cricket. The interesting fact is he is the only Indian to feature in top 10.
