It was a moment of historical prominence in the world of Test cricket during the electrifying Bangladesh vs New Zealand series when New Zealand’s distinguished pacer, Tim Southee, reached a remarkable milestone that propelled him past the great Sir Vivian Richards in a most unexpected category—the number of sixes hit in Test matches. This feat was achieved amidst an intense Test series where the Bangla Tigers, the affectionate moniker for the Bangladesh team, clinched a commendable victory against the Kiwis in the opening game by a robust margin of 150 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Despite being down with their first Test loss against the Tigers on home turf, the New Zealand squad witnessed a silver lining through the efforts of Southee, whose achievement with the bat became the talk of the cricketing fraternity. Southee had been trailing the charismatic West Indies batsman, Sir Viv Richards, by just a single six before the series. However, during the second innings in the first Test, he struck two robust sixes, thus overtaking the charismatic West Indian with a total of 85 sixes, wielding his willow with an approach rarely seen in a bowler.
With those monumental hits, Southee, primarily known for his exploits with the ball, now finds himself placed ninth globally among batsmen with the most sixes in Test cricket history. He ascended to the third spot among his Kiwi counterparts, behind only the aggressive Brendon McCullum, who concluded his career with an impressive 107 sixes, and Chris Cairns, with 87 maximums. Furthermore, Tim Southee stands out as the sole bowler to break into this top 10—mostly dominated by specialist batsmen—a testament to his all-around capabilities and the changing dynamics of modern-day cricket.
The following list offers a glance at the crème de la crème of six-hitters topping the charts:
– Ben Stokes, with a massive tally of 124 sixes,
– Brendon McCullum, with his 107,
– The swashbuckling Adam Gilchrist finishing with an even 100,
– Chris Gayle close on his heels with 98,
– The stoic Jacques Kallis with 97,
– The fearless Virender Sehwag with 91,
– The elegant Brian Lara with 88,
– His fellow countryman, Chris Cairns, with 87,
– And now Tim Southee sealing the ninth position with 85 sixes,
– Leaving the legendary Viv Richards now in the tenth spot with 84 maximums.
Turning to the match in question, the Bangladesh Tigers—leading on home soil—managed to rack up a respectable score of 310 in their first innings, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy anchoring the innings scoring a patient 86. Glenn Phillips emerged as a notable bowler in New Zealand’s bowling line-up, claiming four wickets. New Zealand responded valiantly with their captain Kane Williamson achieving a magnificent century, propelling the team’s score past the 300-run mark to finish slightly ahead.
The second innings saw an impressive batting display by the Tigers, highlighted by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century and significant contributions from the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim and the proficient Mehidy Hasan Miraz. This effort catapulted Bangladesh to a formidable total of 338, setting the Kiwis a challenging target. In the final act of the Test, despite Daryl Mitchell’s determined fifty, Taijul Islam orchestrated a six-wicket haul that, along with support from his fellow bowlers, steered Bangladesh to a memorable victory.
As the game continues to evolve, players like Tim Southee redefine what it means to be a bowler in Test cricket, showing that one can leave an indelible mark, not just with the ball but also with the bat. Such performances underscore the unpredictability and richness of cricket—an enduring spectacle that continually captivates the imaginations of fans worldwide.