Top 10 Longest Six In Cricket History
Hitting a six is one of the most exciting moments in cricket. When a player times their shot perfectly and sends the ball over the boundary, it adds to the score and energizes the entire stadium. Some players have mastered this skill so well that they hit the ball distances that seem unbelievable.
In this article, we take a look at the Top 10 Longest Sixes ever hit in cricket by some legendary batters across formats and eras.
Who has hit the longest six in cricket history?
Shahid Afridi holds the record for the longest six in cricket history, hitting a 153-meter shot against South Africa’s Ryan McLaren in 2013.
1. Shahid Afridi – 153 meters vs. South Africa, 2013
When it comes to biggest six by distance, Shahid Afridi sits at the top of the list. Known for his explosive batting, Afridi smashed a monstrous 153-meter six against South Africa in 2013.
Facing Ryan McLaren at Johannesburg, Afridi sent the ball out of the stadium, leaving the crowd in awe. Even today, this colossal hit is the longest six in international cricket, making Afridi’s name synonymous with powerful hitting.
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2. Brett Lee – 130 meters vs. West Indies, 2005
Though primarily known for his lightning-fast bowling, Brett Lee surprised everyone when he hit a massive six measuring 130 meters against West Indies in 2005 at the Gabba. Facing Darren Powell, Lee launched the ball over the stands, proving that bowlers can hit the second longest sixes in cricket too.
3. Martin Guptill – 127 meters vs. South Africa, 2012
Martin Guptill, a New Zealand opener with a reputation for hard-hitting, delivered one of the most powerful sixes during a T20I against South Africa in 2012. Guptill’s 127-meter strike off Lonwabo Tsotsobe sailed over the roof of the Westpac Stadium, leaving spectators in awe. Guptill’s ability to clear boundaries with ease puts him in the elite club of cricketers known for hitting the longest sixes in cricket.
4. Liam Livingstone – 122 meters vs. Pakistan, 2021
In recent times, Liam Livingstone has emerged as one of England’s most destructive batsmen in limited-overs cricket. During a T20I against Pakistan in 2021, Livingstone smashed a gigantic 122-meter six off Haris Rauf at Headingley. The ball cleared the stadium and landed on a nearby rugby pitch.
5. Corey Anderson – 122 meters vs. India, 2014
New Zealand’s Corey Anderson briefly held the record for the fastest ODI century, and his power was on full display when he hit a 122-meter six against India in 2014. Facing Mohammed Shami, Anderson sent the ball flying over square leg, landing on the roof of the stadium. Anderson’s brutal hitting ability made him one of the most feared players in limited-overs cricket.
6. Mark Waugh – 120 meters vs. New Zealand, 1997
Known for his elegant stroke play, Mark Waugh wasn’t typically associated with towering sixes, but during a Test match against New Zealand in 1997, he smashed a massive 120-meter six off Daniel Vettori. The ball sailed over the boundary at the WACA, cementing Waugh’s place on this list of biggest sixes by distance. Despite his graceful style, Waugh proved he could hit the ball as hard as anyone.
7. Yuvraj Singh – 119 meters vs. Australia, 2007
Yuvraj Singh’s six-hitting prowess is legendary, and his 119-meter six against Brett Lee during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup remains one of the most iconic moments in cricket. Facing a 90 mph delivery, Yuvraj flicked the ball over square leg with effortless power.
8. MS Dhoni – 118 meters vs. New Zealand, 2009
MS Dhoni is renowned for his finishing abilities and his signature helicopter shot, but his 118-meter six against New Zealand in 2009 is one of his biggest hits. During the third ODI of India’s tour, Dhoni sent the ball flying deep into the stands, demonstrating once again why he is one of the best power hitters in cricket.
9. Shahid Afridi – 118 meters vs. Australia, 2005
Shahid Afridi appears on this list once again for his monstrous six against Australia in 2005. Afridi, known for his fearless hitting, spanked the ball for a 118-meter six at Perth. This shot displayed Afridi’s tremendous power and remains one of the biggest sixes in cricket. Afridi’s aggressive batting style and penchant for clearing the boundary made him a crowd favorite during his career.
10. Chris Gayle – 116 meters vs. India, 2010
No list of the longest sixes in cricket is complete without Chris Gayle. Known as the “Universe Boss” for his dominance in T20 cricket, Gayle hit a 116-meter six against India during the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup. Facing Yusuf Pathan, Gayle sent the ball out of the Kensington Oval, showcasing the immense power that has made him one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time.
Longest Sixes In Different Cricket Formats
Let’s see which formats have witnessed the biggest sixes historically:
- Tests – Nathan Astle’s 153m six off Brett Lee in 2001 at Christchurch
- ODIs – Shahid Afridi’s 158m hit off Shaun Pollock discussed earlier
- T20s – Graham Napier’s 117m six off Ravichandran Ashwin during 2008 IPL at Chepauk
- First Class – Somerset’s Peter Trego hit one around 160m out of the Taunton stadium in 2019
- List A – Hamilton Masakadza’s reported 148m six during a List A game in the early 2000s
- Domestic T20 – Hardik Pandya’s 105m hit during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2016
Longest Sixes Prize Money
Given fans’ love for towering sixes, some leagues have started instituting prizes for longest sixes as well:
- Big Bash League – In BBL, biggest six hitter gets AUD $4,000 prize.
- Caribbean Premier League – CPL awards $500 for each match’s biggest six.
- Bangladesh Premier League – BPL introduced the ‘Futoon6’ longest six award in 2019.
- Pakistan Super League – PSL awards PMR 10,000 for longest six since 2018 edition.
- Indian Premier League – Does not officially have a longest six prize currently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who hit the longest six in international cricket?
Shahid Afridi holds the record for the longest six in cricket history, with a 153-meter six against South Africa in 2013.
Who hit the longest six in IPL?
Chris Gayle has hit several sixes over 105-110 meters in IPL cricket establishing himself as the longest IPL six hitter.
Which female cricketer has hit the longest six?
During the 2018 WT20I tournament, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine hit a 111 meter six against India which is the biggest six in women’s cricket.