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Top 10 Cricketers With Most Sixes in Test Cricket - 2025 Updated

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Most Sixes in Test
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Test cricket, traditionally revered for its emphasis on technique and patience, has transformed with the emergence of aggressive batting styles. While the format spans five days, demanding endurance and strategy, modern players have increasingly embraced power-hitting, making sixes a more common part of the game. The sudden change and the evolution of the dynamics of Test cricket, in which the balance between the older style of play and modern aggression has been combined. The power to clear boundaries quickens scoring and change momentum, and six-hitting becomes an asset from the team's perspective. We will take a look at the 10 Top Cricketers with the most sixes in test cricket.

How We Ranked the Most Sixes in Test Cricket - Ranking Factor

The top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in test will be ranked with two factors one with the number of sixes they have hit in their career and the second one is a just a addition if there is similar numbers of sixes being struck we will take a look at the less number of balls taken to struck the most sixes in test.

  • Total Sixes Hit in Test Career: In Test cricket, the number of sixes hit by a player has emerged as a significant ranking factor, reflecting not just power but also the ability to dominate bowlers. Players who consistently clear the ropes in Tests are often match-winners capable of shifting momentum rapidly.
  • Innings per Six Ratio: If players are tied for the most sixes in Test cricket, a tie breaker has been used as a ranking factor, which is the fewest number of innings taken to hit the most sixes in Test cricket.
  • Strike Rate in Test Cricket: Higher strike rates often indicate aggressive play styles, leading to more sixes, and that has been considered while ranking the player with the highest sixes in test.
  • Batting Position: Middle/lower-order players often take more risks; the factor helps contextualise the six count and make it easier to rank the player with the highest sixes in test.
  • Impact of Sixes on Match Outcome: Match-winning or game-changing sixes are valued more than the rest, and such iconic sixes have been kept in mind to determine the player with most sixes in test.
  • Sixes Against Top Teams: Hitting sixes consistently against elite bowling attacks adds weight as it is not easy to smash such strong bowling line-ups for a six, and that is an essential criterion to rank the player with the highest sixes in test.
  • Era of Play: This adjusts for changes in bat technology, field settings, and pitch behaviour across decades, as it was even tougher to hit sixes in earlier eras due to the large boundary dimensions and the weight of the cricket bat. This makes it a significant factor in ranking the players with the most sixes in test.

Most Sixes In A Test Innings

The record for the most sixes in a single Test innings is jointly held by India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Pakistan's Wasim Akram, each having hit 12 sixes in an innings. Wasim Akram achieved this feat in 1996 against Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura, scoring an unbeaten 257 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal matched this record in 2024 with an unbeaten 214 against England in Rajkot. But we have ranked Yashasvi Jaiswal on top, as he took fewer balls to hit more sixes in the innings.

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Top 10 Cricketers With Most Sixes in Test Cricket - Updated List

There have been many cricketers all around the globe who have smashed numerous sixes in Test cricket as well and struck the bowlers all over the ground, which would even sometimes make them feel as if they are playing limited-over cricket. Such was the playing nature of many of these players, who are a part of this list for the most sixes in tests. Virendra Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, etc., were the kind of players who never hesitated to deposit the ball in the stands even in their red-ball career.

RankNameCountryMatchesInningsBalls PlayedSixes
1Ben StokesEngland11019811251133
2Brendon McCullumNew Zealand1011769989107
3Adam GilchristAustralia961376796100
4Tim SoutheeNew Zealand107156271598
5Chris GayleWest Indies1031821197098
6Jacques KallisSouth Africa1662802890397
7Virender SehwagIndia1041801044191
8Angelo MathewsSri Lanka1182101685689
9Rohit SharmaIndia67116753888
10Brian LaraWest Indies1312321975388

Who has Hit the Highest Sixes in Test?

The list for the highest sixes in Test consists of various legends of the game, such as Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Jacques Kallis, etc. Two Indian Stalwarts are also a part of this list, namely, Virendra Sehwag and Rohit Sharma. Let's have a look at the player with the highest sixes in tests.

10. Brian Lara | West Indies

most-sixes-in-test
Brian Lara (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Brian Charles Lara was one of the most stylish batters of all time. The former West Indies batter has the record for the highest individual score in an international Test innings, after scoring 400 not out. He has been an all-time legend of the game and for the West Indies as well. The former Windies skipper led the side to the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004. Their only ICC Trophy in the 50-over format of the game.

Lara has been sensational in the traditional format of the game. With 11,953 runs, he has been one of the legends of the format and was a consistent performer in test cricket. But the most stylish batter has a record for hitting the most sixes in test cricket. He ranks among the batters who have struck the most sixes in test cricket. Brian Lara has hit 88 sixes in his career, which was nearly two decades.

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9. Rohit Sharma | India

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Rohit Sharma (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Rohit Sharma is one of the most elegant batters of all time. The team India captain has been one of the sweetest timers of the ball. His hand and eye coordination make him different from the rest of the cricketers across the world. He started opening in 2013 in the limited-overs format, where he changed his fortunes and for the Men in Blue as well. He is the only captain to qualify for all the ICC finals. Rohit started opening in the test way later in 2019, and since then, he has never turned back.

He is the first Indian batter to score a hundred in each format of the game as an opener. Rohit's six-hitting looks almost beautiful, whether it's a pull shot off a fast bowler or a smooth slog over deep midwicket against a spinner. Rohit has struck 637 sixes in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He recently retired from test cricket before India's tour to England and has struck 88 sixes in the longest format of the game. He is the second Indian on the list with the most sixes in test cricket.

8. Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka

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Angelo Mathews (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Angelo Mathews has been one of the most underrated cricketers for Sri Lanka. He did not get the limelight he should have gotten. He made a significant impact with his powerful batting, particularly through his ability to clear the boundary. He was soon a formidable player across formats for Sri Lanka. Mathews soon became a solid middle-order batsman and a useful medium-pace bowler. For years, he has been the rock on which the Sri Lankan Test team stood, respected for his toughness and capacity to underpin the innings in times of pressure.

Mathews has featured in 116 Test matches, scoring over 8,000 runs at a strike rate of 44.69, with 16 centuries and 44 half-centuries. He was made Sri Lanka's youngest-ever Test captain at the age of 25 in 2013. Under his leadership, the Lankan Lions won the historic Test series victory in England in 2014. In the history of test cricket, he is the only Sri Lankan player to be ranked in the Top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in test cricket. Mathews has hit 89 sixes.

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7. Virender Sehwag | India

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Virender Sehwag (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Virender Sehwag changed the dynamics of opening batting during his era, especially in test cricket. He was one of India's most explosive Test batsmen in an era where he faced the best bowlers of Test cricket with the likes of Glen McGrath, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, and more. With his aggressive approach and fearless stroke play, he dismantled several star-studded bowling attacks. Sehwag debuted as a Test opener during India's tour of England in 2002. There, he scored a hundred on his first England tour in the third test.

His test career spanned nearly a decade, where he scored 8586 with an average of 49.34 and a strike rate of 82.23, which ranked him among the most impactful cricketers for India. He has scored 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries, including two triple centuries, a feat achieved by only a select few in Test history. Sehwag is the first Indian to hit 90 sixes in a test matches.

6. Jacques Kallis | South Africa

most-sixes-in-test
Jacques Kallis (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Jacques Kallis is the greatest South African player. He was underrated and did not get the fame he should have gotten. He is the only Protea cricketer in the history of the game to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket. He holds the record for most Test centuries by a South African and is known for his classical batting technique and versatile bowling, which makes him one of the best cricketers in the world.

Kallis has not been the hardest hitter of the ball; he was more of a sweet timer, and he has featured in 166 Test matches for the Rainbow Nation. Kallis scored 13,289 runs at an impressive average of 55.37, including 45 centuries and 58 fifties. He has been the only Proteas cricketer to be in the list for the most sixes in test cricket. Kallis has struck 97 sixes and ranks 6th for hitting the most sixes in test.

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5. Chris Gayle | West Indies

most-sixes-in-test
Christ Gayle (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Chris Gayle is known as the ‘Universe Boss’. The former West Indies opener was known for his aggressive batting style and was a nightmare for any bowler. He has the record for smashing most hundreds in the T20 format of the game. He has 22 hundred in his career. This showcases his destructive batting approach. Gayle, with his big muscular biceps used to hit humongous sixes without any problems.

The former Windies captain has scored 10480 runs in the ODI format. The flamboyant style and power that terrified the bowlers earned him the title ‘Universe Boss.’ He has also been an amazing striker of the ball in the red ball format as well. He used his aggressive style of play in the traditional format. He is the only West Indian ranked in the top 5 for hitting the most sixes in test cricket. The Southpaw has struck 98 sixes in the toughest format of the game. He has also scored one triple century in his 103-match test career.

4. Tim Southee | New Zealand

most-sixes-in-test
Tim Southee (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Tim Southee has been one of the finest red-ball bowlers for New Zealand. He has been known for his contributions with the new ball and as a lower-order right-handed batsman. Over a 16-year Test career, Southee played 107 matches, claiming 391 wickets at an average of 30.26, making him New Zealand's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, behind Sir Richard Hadlee.

Southee was instrumental in New Zealand's victory in the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, notably taking four wickets in the second innings of the final against India. He is the most surprising name in the list for the top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in test cricket. The reason is that he has been a formidable bowler all his life. But one thing that surprises everyone is that he is the only bowler to hit 98 sixes in the longest format of the game.

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3. Adam Gilchrist | Australia

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Adam Gilchrist (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Adam Gilchrist has been one of the greatest Australian cricketers of all time. He, along with Matthew Hayden, created a nightmare for the bowlers in the limited-overs format of the game. Gilchrist redefined the role with his aggressive batting and exceptional glove work, setting new standards for future generations. He has been an excellent striker of the ball across format of the game.

Despite batting much lower in test match cricket, Gilly has scored 5,570 runs at an average of 47.61, including 17 centuries. He also has 416 dismissals in Tests (379 catches and 37 stumpings) beside his name. The former Australian captain has the second-fastest century in Test history at the time in 2006. He ranks third among the top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in test cricket. Gilly has struck 100 sixes the it is the most sixes in test cricket by any Australian.

2. Brendon McCullum | New Zealand

most-sixes-in-test
Brendon McCullum (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Brendon McCullum changed the dynamics of playing the Pacers and in the powerplay. He remains one of the most aggressive batters in world cricket. The former Kiwi captain danced down the track and attacked the pacers like no other batter. He has been a sensational opener for the Kiwis, he single-handedly led the side in the 2015 ICC Men's ODI World Cup final. Eventually losing against Australia.

McCullum has always entertained the fans with his batting prowess. The wicket-keeper batter played 101 Test matches, scoring 6,453 runs at an average of 38.64 and a strike rate of 64.60. He became the first New Zealander to score a triple century in Tests, amassing 302 runs against India in 2014. In his final Test in 2016, he set a record for the fastest Test century, reaching 100 runs in just 54 balls against Australia. He holds the record for hitting the second-most sixes in test. The former Kiwi skipper has hit 107 sixes.

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1. Ben Stokes | England

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Ben Stokes (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@ICC)

Ben Stokes has transformed England's Test cricket environment. He is one of the finest all-rounders of this generation and one of the best test captains in the world. His best leadership contribution came in the 2023 Ashes series, where he nearly pulled off a comeback in the series. His never-say-die mindset motivates younger players, and he often leads from the front in critical moments.

Stokes has been a crucial member of the Three Lions across every format. Now that he has retired from limited-overs cricket, he focuses on test cricket, he has been exceptional for them. Stokes has led the team with an aggressive and positive approach, achieving a win ratio of 59.38% (19 wins in 32 matches). He has struck the most sixes in test. Ben Stokes has 133 sixes in the longest format of the game.

Who has the Most Sixes in Tests of All Time?

As of 2025, England's Ben Stokes holds the record for the most sixes in test cricket history, having struck 133 sixes over 110 matches. With his aggressive batting style, he has transformed the England test team's mindset and which suits the Bazball style of play. Stokes' approach to Test batting reflects a broader shift in the format, where players increasingly blend traditional techniques with aggressive shot-making.

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FAQs

Who hit the most sixes in the test?

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Ben Stokes holds the record for the most sixes in Test cricket, having hit 133 sixes

Who is the sixer king in the world?

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The "Sixer King" in international cricket is Rohit Sharma.

Who has the most sixes of all time?

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Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in international cricket with 637 sixes. 

How many sixes did Dhoni have in Test?

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MS Dhoni hit 78 sixes in his Test cricket career.

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Edited by- Meet Sharma
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