Cricket is a game of fine margins and explosive moments, and nothing electrifies a stadium quite like one of the longest sixes in cricket history soaring high into the stands. Over the years, some of the sport’s most iconic players have carved their names into history with these towering shots that left fans speechless. In this article, we take a deep dive into the longest sixes in cricket history ever witnessed, celebrating the sheer power, timing, and audacity of the players who made them legendary.
Top 12 Biggest Sixes in Cricket History
Let’s see the list of Longest sixes in cricket history:
1. Shahid Afridi – 153 meters
- Opponent: South Africa
- Year: 2013
- Venue: Johannesburg
- Insight: Often dubbed “Boom Boom Afridi,” the former Pakistan captain was known for his aggressive style. In this match, he unleashed a monstrous 153-meter six arguably the longest six ever recorded. Though its measurement has sparked debate, it remains legendary in cricket folklore for its sheer magnitude and raw power.
2. Brett Lee – 130 meters
- Opponent: West Indies
- Year: 2005
- Venue: Gabba, Brisbane
- Insight: One of the rarest instances where a bowler dominates with the bat. Lee, known for his pace, surprised everyone by launching a 130-meter rocket over long-on. It showcased his underrated batting ability and remains one of the most iconic sixes hit by a tailender.
3. Martin Guptill – 127 meters
- Opponent: South Africa
- Year: 2012
- Venue: Wellington
- Insight: Guptill, a technically sound Kiwi opener, cleared the stadium with this gigantic six. The ball reportedly landed outside the ground, with commentators stunned at the clean strike. A perfect example of timing meeting brute strength.
4. Liam Livingstone – 122 meters
- Opponent: Pakistan
- Year: 2021
- Venue: Headingley, Leeds
- Insight: One of the modern-day power hitters, Livingstone showcased his range with a massive 122-meter six that soared into the night sky. It was a statement shot during a T20 game, proving how T20 specialists are changing the power dynamics of the sport.
5. Corey Anderson – 122 meters
- Opponent: India
- Year: 2014
- Venue: Queenstown
- Insight: Known for hitting the then-fastest ODI century, Anderson’s six was a product of immense core strength and hand speed. The 122-meter shot against India showed how he could generate distance with minimal effort.
6. Chris Gayle – 120 meters
- Opponent: India
- Year: 2010
- Venue: Bridgetown, Barbados
- Insight: The “Universe Boss” has hit more sixes than any player in cricket history. This particular six measuring 120 meters was just one of many brutal strikes that made him a T20 legend. His effortless style made such hits look routine.
7. Yuvraj Singh – 120 meters
- Opponent: Australia
- Year: 2007
- Venue: Durban (T20 World Cup Semi-Final)
- Insight: In red-hot form during the 2007 T20 World Cup, Yuvraj hit this mighty six off Brett Lee, further cementing his status as a big-match player. The timing, placement, and distance of these six left even Lee applauding in disbelief.
8. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 112 meters
- Opponent: New Zealand
- Year: 2009
- Venue: Christchurch
- Insight: Captain Cool’s signature helicopter shot was on full display. The 112-meter six came in a crucial ODI match and reminded everyone of Dhoni’s ability to finish games with monstrous hits, regardless of boundary size.
9. Ijaz Ahmed – 108 meters
- Opponent: India
- Year: 1999
- Venue: Mohali
- Insight: A largely forgotten gem, Ijaz Ahmed’s towering six-over long-off stunned the Indian bowlers and crowd alike. In an intense India-Pakistan game, this 108-meter six became a highlight moment of a high-octane rivalry.
10. Adam Gilchrist – 104 meters
- Opponent: England
- Year: 2006
- Venue: Perth
- Insight: Gilchrist, known for his quick scoring and elegant aggression, sent this one soaring at the WACA. The sixth was a blend of footwork, bat speed, and confidence. A defining hit in his illustrious career.
11. Mark Waugh – 102 meters
- Opponent: New Zealand
- Year: 1997
- Venue: Brisbane
- Insight: More known for finesse than power, Mark Waugh stunned fans when he hit a clean 102-meter six. It’s a testament to his timing, showing that you don’t always need brute strength to clear long distances.
12. MS Dhoni – 112 meters
- Opponent: Australia
- Year: 2011
- Venue: Adelaide
Insight: Though similar to his 2009 strike, Dhoni’s towering six in this match was equally memorable. With perfect wrist work and a calm head, he launched the ball deep into the crowd, reminding everyone why he’s called Captain Cool.
Players with the most sixes in International Cricket
Here is a breakdown of the top players renowned for their six-hitting prowess:
1. Rohit Sharma- 634 sixes (India)
Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in international cricket, with a staggering 634 sixes across formats (as of March 2025). Known for his elegant timing and effortless hitting, Rohit has turned six-hitting into an art form. Whether it’s the classical lofted drives in Tests, the calculated assaults in ODIs, or the explosive outbursts in T20s, his sixes often shift the momentum in India’s favor.
2. Chris Gayle – 553 sixes (West Indies)
Nicknamed the “Universe Boss,” Chris Gayle is a global icon of power-hitting. With 553 sixes to his name in international cricket, he revolutionized the way openers approached limited-overs games. Gayle’s monstrous sixes, especially in T20Is, became crowd-pullers across the globe. His ability to dominate bowlers regardless of the format or venue made him a nightmare for opponents.
3. Shahid Afridi – 476 sixes (Pakistan)
One of Pakistan’s most explosive batters, Shahid Afridi thrilled fans with his fearless and unpredictable style. Accumulating 476 international sixes, Afridi earned the nickname “Boom Boom” for his audacious Strokeplay. Most of his sixes came in ODIs, where he often came in at crucial moments and turned games around with quick cameos. His aggressive mindset made him a match-winner on his day and one of the most entertaining cricketers in the game’s history.
4. Brendon McCullum – 398 sixes (New Zealand)
Brendon McCullum transformed New Zealand’s cricketing culture with his attacking brand of cricket. With 398 sixes, he ranks among the top six hitters in the world. His fearless approach at the top of the order, especially in T20s and ODIs, often put pressure on opponents from the first ball. McCullum also holds the record for the fastest.
Test century, which included a flurry of sixes, underlining his aggressive style even in the longest format. His legacy as a trailblazer continues to influence many young Kiwi cricketers.
Impact of Six Hitting on a Cricket Match
In modern cricket, the ability to hit sixes has become more than just a crowd-pleasing spectacle it’s a strategic weapon that can change the course of a match in minutes. A well-timed six can swing momentum, demoralize the opposition, and lift a team from a tight situation. Let’s break down the impact of six-hitting with a closer look at how it affects various aspects of the game.
1. Pressure on Bowlers
When a batter consistently clears the boundary, it immediately puts the bowler under immense pressure. Every six not only adds quick runs to the scoreboard but also forces the bowler to rethink their line, length, and strategy.
- Mental strain: Bowlers become hesitant and may begin to overthink their deliveries, often leading to errors like overpitching or bowling too short.
- Loss of rhythm: A single big over with multiple sixes can completely throw off a bowler’s rhythm, making it difficult to maintain consistency.
- Field changes: Bowlers are forced to adapt to new field placements, which might not suit their strengths, thus decreasing their effectiveness.
When a power-hitter is in full flow, bowlers often go defensive, trying to “contain” rather than attack which shifts the control of the match to the batting side.
2. Eases the Pressure on the Batsman
For the batter, hitting sixes is not just about dominance it’s a way to relieve pressure and shift the game’s tempo in their favor.
- Quick runs: A few sixes reduce the required run rate significantly in limited-overs matches, making the chase or innings buildup smoother.
- Confidence boost: A cleanly struck six often boosts a batsman’s confidence and can help them settle faster, even if they were initially struggling.
- Psychological edge: Once a batter starts hitting sixes, they tend to gain a psychological upper hand over both bowlers and fielders. This momentum can be infectious, lifting the entire batting side’s energy.
Six-hitting can also mask the lack of boundaries elsewhere. One over with two sixes can neutralize several tight overs, thus easing scoreboard pressure.
3. Puts Pressure on the Fielding Captain
When a batter is in six-hitting mode, the fielding captain is often left scrambling for solutions.
- Constant field adjustments: Captains may be forced to spread the field to cut off boundaries, which in turn opens gaps for easy singles and doubles.
- Tactical dilemmas: Deciding whether to attack with close fielders or defend with boundary riders becomes a tough call. Either choice can be risky.
- Bowler rotation: Captains may have to shuffle their bowling attack earlier than planned, breaking their preferred combinations and strategy.
In high-stakes games, a barrage of sixes can make even the most composed captains question their plans, leading to tactical errors that the batting team can exploit.
Sixes have become the ultimate expression of dominance, shifting the momentum of matches and elevating cricket’s entertainment value to new heights, especially in shorter formats. As the game continues to evolve with more T20 leagues and aggressive batting styles, the next decade promises to unveil new six-hitting stars. Players like Liam Livingstone, Glenn Phillips, and Ishan Kishan could well be the future faces of this power-packed art form, taking the baton forward and rewriting the record books.
