Traditionally, Test cricket has been associated with patience and technique whilst batting defensively for up to six hours on a given day. But since then, the number of cavalier approach batsmen capable of removing the ball from play with ease has steadily increased in modern Test cricket.

This record of most sixes in Tests is currently held by England’s Ben Stokes, who hit a total of 138 sixes before retiring from the format. He passed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who was on 107. Rishabh Pant is third on the list of players with most sixes in ODI history with 102, while former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has a total of 100.

It is an intriguing list as most of the top six-hitters are all-out attack middle-order batters and wicketkeepers. With aggressive strokeplay used by players to swing the ebb and flow of a Test match, the record reflects how methods have evolved. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of most sixes in Test cricket, most sixes in Tests, Matches player, innings, match and some major six hitting records.

Most Sixes in Test Cricket History

Ben Stokes currently holds the record for the most sixes in Test cricket history, with 138 maximums. His aggressive batting style, particularly during England’s attacking approach under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, helped him establish a significant lead over the previous record holder. Brendon McCullum finished his career with 107 Test sixes, while Rishabh Pant has already crossed the 100-six mark. Adam Gilchrist was the first player to reach 100 sixes in Test cricket.

Top 10 Players With Most Sixes in Test

Rank Player Team Tests Innings Sixes Best Score
1 Ben Stokes England 122 220 138 258
2 Brendon McCullum New Zealand 101 176 107 302
3 Rishabh Pant India 52 90 102 159*
4 Adam Gilchrist Australia 96 137 100 204*
5 Tim Southee New Zealand 107 156 98 77*
6 Chris Gayle West Indies 103 182 98 333
7 Jacques Kallis South Africa 166 280 97 224*
8 Virender Sehwag India 104 180 91 319
9 Angelo Mathews Sri Lanka 116 212 90 200*
10 Rohit Sharma India 67 116 88 212

1. Ben Stokes – 138 Sixes

Ben Stokes is the all-time leading six-hitter in men’s Test cricket. He retired with 138 English Test sixes – 31 more than McCullum. The result was that Stokes had blended power with an aggressive mindset which made him probably the most destructive lower-middle-order batters in Test cricket. His quick scoring made him an especially potent weapon when England needed to up the tempo or reverse the flow of a match. Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026, after a 15-year career.

2. Brendon McCullum – 107 Sixes

Brendon McCullum is One of the most aggressive batsmen in Test cricket. At the time he was a record holder for the most sixes ever hit from 101 Tests – hitting 107 before being overtaken by Stokes. This attacking style was mostly seen during his double-century knock but also when he scored 302 against India in 2014.

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3. Rishabh Pant – 102 Sixes

Rishabh Pant was already a step ahead of Platinum 100-six for Indian players in Test cricket. Aggressive attitude, playing different types of strokes and his approach to pace as well as spin has made him one of the most destructive Test batters in India. Having plenty of upside left in his career, Pant is one of the players most capable to occupy those top spots on this list.

4. Adam Gilchrist – 100 Sixes

The very first batter to smash 100 sixes in Test cricket was Adam Gilchrist. The Australian wicket-keeper batter hit exactly 100 sixes in his Test career from 96 Twenty20 internationals. His explosive batting turned a defensive position into one of aggression, it changed the nature of wicketkeeping in Test cricket and inspired generations of attacking wicketkeepers.

5. Tim Southee – 98 Sixes

The only other name that seems odd on this list is Tim Southee, because he was much more in charge of the bowling department than as a proper batting talent. However, his lower-order batting was so aggressive that it yielded him 98 Test sixes. Southee’s ability to play quick scoring strokes made him an asset with the bat in lower order throughout his international career.

Most Sixes in Test Career

The Test career sixes record is based on the total number of sixes hit by a player throughout his career. Ben Stokes leads the list with 138 sixes. Brendon McCullum is second with 107, while Rishabh Pant has moved into third place with 102. Adam Gilchrist is the only other player to have reached exactly 100 Test sixes. The top of the list demonstrates the importance of both longevity and attacking intent. Some players accumulated their totals over more than 100 Tests, while others reached very high numbers despite playing substantially fewer matches.

Most Sixes in a Test Match

The record for the most sixes by an individual batter in a Test match is held by Rohit Sharma, who hit 13 sixes against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019. Rohit scored 176 in India’s first innings and 127 in the second, hitting six sixes in the first innings and seven in the second. His total of 13 sixes remains the highest by an individual batter in one Test match.

Most Sixes by a Batter in a Test Match

Record Player Sixes Opponent Venue Year
Most in a Test match Rohit Sharma 13 South Africa Visakhapatnam 2019
Joint highest in an innings Wasim Akram 12 Zimbabwe Sheikhupura 1996
Joint highest in an innings Yashasvi Jaiswal 12 England Rajkot 2024

Most Sixes in a Test Innings

The record for the most sixes in a Test innings is 12. Pakistan’s Wasim Akram first established the record in 1996 when he hit 12 sixes during his unbeaten 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. Nearly three decades later, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal equalled the record. He smashed 12 sixes during his unbeaten 214 against England in the Rajkot Test in February 2024.

Most Sixes in a Test Innings

Player Runs Sixes Opponent Venue Year
Wasim Akram 257* 12 Zimbabwe Sheikhupura 1996
Yashasvi Jaiswal 214* 12 England Rajkot 2024
Nathan Astle 222 11 England Christchurch 2002
Matthew Hayden 380 11 Zimbabwe Perth 2003
Brendon McCullum 202 11 Pakistan Sharjah 2014
Brendon McCullum 195 11 Sri Lanka Christchurch 2014
Ben Stokes 258 11 South Africa Cape Town 2016
Kusal Mendis 245 11 Ireland Galle 2023

Most Sixes in One Test Match by a Batsman

When both innings of a Test match are combined, Rohit Sharma holds the individual record with 13 sixes. His performance came during his first Test as an opener against South Africa in 2019. He hit six sixes in the first innings and seven in the second, producing 303 runs across the match. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 12 sixes against England at Rajkot are the second-highest individual match tally. 

This distinction is important because the most sixes in a Test innings and the most sixes in a Test match are different records. A batter can have an enormous six count across two innings even without holding the single-innings record.

Most Sixes in Test by Indian Batsmen

India has produced several powerful Test six-hitters, including Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rishabh Pant currently leads India’s career list with 102 Test sixes, while Rohit Sharma has 88 and Virender Sehwag finished with 91.

Leading Indian Test Six-Hitters

Rank Player Test Sixes
1 Rishabh Pant 102
2 Virender Sehwag 91
3 Rohit Sharma 88
4 Yashasvi Jaiswal Developing
5 MS Dhoni 78

Rohit Sharma also holds India’s individual record for the most sixes in a Test match, with 13 against South Africa in 2019.

Most Sixes in Test by Country

Several major Test nations have produced outstanding six-hitters.

Country Notable Test Six-Hitter Career Sixes
England Ben Stokes 138
New Zealand Brendon McCullum 107
India Rishabh Pant 102
Australia Adam Gilchrist 100
West Indies Chris Gayle 98
South Africa Jacques Kallis 97
Sri Lanka Angelo Mathews 90
Pakistan Wasim Akram 55+

The numbers highlight the different styles of batting across Test nations. England’s Stokes and New Zealand’s McCullum are particularly notable for their aggressive middle-order batting, while Gilchrist and Pant demonstrate the impact of attacking wicketkeeper-batters.

Most Sixes in Test Cricket in a Single Series

Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the record for the most sixes by a batter in a men’s Test series. During India’s five-Test series against England in 2024, Jaiswal hit 26 sixes, scoring 712 runs. He surpassed Rohit Sharma’s previous record of 19 sixes in India’s 2019 series against South Africa. The series itself also produced an extraordinary number of sixes. India and England combined for 102 sixes, the most in a Test series at the time.

Most Sixes in a Test Series

Player Sixes Opposition Series
Yashasvi Jaiswal 26 England 2024
Rohit Sharma 19 South Africa 2019
Shimron Hetmyer 15 Bangladesh 2018
Ben Stokes 15 Australia 2023

Most Sixes by a Team in a Test Match

India holds the record for the most sixes by a team in a single Test match. India hit 28 sixes against England in Rajkot in 2024, breaking their own previous record of 27 sixes against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019.

Team Record for Most Sixes in a Test Match

Rank Team Sixes Opponent Venue Year
1 India 28 England Rajkot 2024
2 India 27 South Africa Visakhapatnam 2019
3 New Zealand 22 Pakistan Sharjah 2014
4 India 19 England Birmingham 2025
5 West Indies 18 England St John’s 1986

Most Sixes in Test Cricket in a Single Year

A calendar-year sixes record, in contrast, measures only the sixes scored during one year and not over a career. Attacking batting strategies have resulted in a few very high six-count seasons, particularly from the likes of Ben Stokes, Yashasvi Jaiswal and other power hitters Lower order international batters.

But as the number of matches varies disproportionally between players and countries, calendar-year statistics should always be checked against the exact Test schedule and the player’s matches in that particular year.

Fastest Players to Reach Test Six Milestones

Reaching 50, 100 or more Test sixes is a major indicator of sustained power-hitting. Adam Gilchrist became the first player to reach 100 Test sixes, while Brendon McCullum later became the second. Ben Stokes eventually surpassed McCullum and finished his career with 138.

Major Test Six Milestones

Milestone Notable Player
50 sixes Achieved by multiple players
100 sixes Adam Gilchrist
100+ sixes Brendon McCullum
100+ sixes Rishabh Pant
100+ sixes Ben Stokes
Highest career total Ben Stokes – 138

Most Sixes in Test vs ODI vs T20I

The record for most sixes in Test cricket is very different from the equivalent records in limited-overs cricket.

Format Leading Six-Hitter Sixes
Test Ben Stokes 138
ODI Rohit Sharma 351+
T20I Rohit Sharma 200+

Most Sixes in Test: Important Records at a Glance

Record Player/Team Sixes
Most sixes in Test career Ben Stokes 138
Second-most Test career sixes Brendon McCullum 107
Most sixes in a Test innings Wasim Akram / Yashasvi Jaiswal 12
Most sixes by a batter in a Test match Rohit Sharma 13
Most sixes by a team in a Test India 28
Most sixes by a batter in a Test series Yashasvi Jaiswal 26
Most sixes by an Indian in a Test match Rohit Sharma 13

Conclusion

The most sixes in Test record reflects how dramatically Test batting has evolved. Ben Stokes currently sits at the top of the career list with 138 sixes, ahead of Brendon McCullum’s 107 and Rishabh Pant’s 102. At the innings level, Wasim Akram and Yashasvi Jaiswal share the record with 12 sixes. Rohit Sharma holds the individual record for most sixes in a Test match with 13, while India owns the team record with 28 sixes in a single Test.

These records demonstrate that Test cricket is no longer purely about defensive technique and occupying the crease. Modern players are increasingly combining traditional Test skills with aggressive shot-making, creating some of the most entertaining six-hitting performances in the history of the format.

FAQs

1.Who has hit the most sixes in Test cricket?

Ben Stokes has hit the most sixes in men’s Test cricket. He finished his Test career with 138 sixes.

2.Who has the most sixes in Test history?

Ben Stokes holds the all-time men’s Test record with 138 sixes. Brendon McCullum is second with 107, followed by Rishabh Pant with 102.

3.Who has hit the most sixes in a Test innings?

Wasim Akram and Yashasvi Jaiswal share the record with 12 sixes in a Test innings. Akram hit 12 against Zimbabwe in 1996, while Jaiswal matched the record against England in Rajkot in 2024.

4.has hit the most sixes in one Test match?

Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes by an individual batter in a Test match, with 13 against South Africa at Visakhapatnam in 2019.

5.Who has the most sixes in Test cricket for India?

Rishabh Pant is currently India’s leading Test six-hitter with 102 sixes. Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma are also among India’s leading six-hitters.