AB de Villiers - First batsman to hit 50 sixes in ODIs and 60 sixes in International cricket in a calendar year
In his blasting knock of 119 off 61 in the fifth ODI against India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, AB de Villiers hit 11 sixes. With those sixes, he went past hitting 50 sixes in ODIs in 2015 and also 60 sixes in all International matches this year.
So far in the cricket history, no batsman has done it. The record for most sixes in ODIs in a calendar year was 48 by Shahid Afridi in the year 2002. The same record in International matches was 59 by Chris Gayle in 2012.
Two more months are left in this year, but AB de Villiers has shattered the records already. South Africa will play four Tests against India in India and then one Test against England in South Africa before the year 2015 comes to an end. No more ODIs for South Africa though.
Shahid Afridi hit 48 sixes in 36 ODI innings in 2002 whereas AB de Villiers has hit 10 more sixes than him in just half of the innings. He has hit 58 sixes in just 18 innings! AB de Villiers has hit 61 sixes in all International matches in 2015 and with five more Tests to go he will increase that number for sure.
Let’s have the list of most sixes in various formats in a calendar year.
Most sixes in ODIs in a calendar year
|
Sixes |
Batsman |
Inns |
Year |
|
58 |
AB de Villiers |
18 |
2015 |
|
48 |
Shahid Afridi |
36 |
2002 |
|
42 |
Shane Watson |
22 |
2011 |
|
40 |
Sachin Tendulkar |
33 |
1998 |
|
37 |
Shahid Afridi |
24 |
2005 |
|
35 |
Sourav Ganguly |
32 |
2000 |
|
35 |
Matthew Hayden |
30 |
2007 |
|
34 |
MS Dhoni |
24 |
2005 |
|
33 |
Yuvraj Singh |
33 |
2007 |
|
32* |
Brendon McCullum |
22 |
2015 |
- New Zealand will play three more ODIs before the year 2015 ends and hence Brendon McCullum can hit some more sixes to move up.
Most sixes in International cricket in a calendar year
|
Sixes |
Batsman |
Inns |
Year |
|
61* |
AB de Villiers |
25 |
2015 |
|
59 |
Chris Gayle |
29 |
2012 |
|
57 |
Shane Watson |
38 |
2011 |
|
56 |
Shahid Afridi |
36 |
2005 |
|
55 |
Brendon McCullum |
34 |
2014 |
|
53 |
Chris Gayle |
36 |
2009 |
|
52 |
Shahid Afridi |
41 |
2002 |
|
51 |
Sachin Tendulkar |
42 |
1998 |
|
49 |
Matthew Hayden |
45 |
2007 |
|
49 |
Yuvraj Singh |
43 |
2007 |
|
49 |
Brendon McCullum |
44 |
2008 |
- The next highest number of sixes in International cricket this year is 44 by Chris Gayle in 13 innings.
AB de Villiers’ all the 58 sixes in ODIs in 2015 have been hit as a captain. It is also by far the most number of sixes by a captain in ODIs in a year. The previous record was 34 by Sourav Ganguly in 2000.
Most sixes as a captain in ODIs in a calendar year
|
Sixes |
Batsman |
Inns |
Year |
|
58* |
AB de Villiers |
18 |
2015 |
|
34 |
Sourav Ganguly |
25 |
2000 |
|
32* |
Brendon McCullum |
22 |
2015 |
|
29* |
Eoin Morgan |
19 |
2015 |
|
28 |
Misbah-ul-Haw |
32 |
2013 |
- AB de Villiers, Brendon McCullum and Eoin Morgan have done it in 2015. Three of the top four have been in this year. Interesting year for captains.
AB de Villiers has his 59 sixes as captain in International cricket this year which is also a record for any captain. He went past Brendon McCullum who hit 54 sixes as captain in 2014.
Most sixes as a captain in International cricket in a calendar year
|
Sixes |
Batsman |
Inns |
Year |
|
59* |
AB de Villiers |
20 |
2015 |
|
54 |
Brendon McCullum |
33 |
2014 |
|
53 |
Chris Gayle |
36 |
2009 |
|
45 |
Chris Gayle |
26 |
2008 |
|
39 |
Sourav Ganguly |
29 |
2000 |
|
39* |
Brendon McCullum |
29 |
2015 |
- New Zealand will play five Tests and three ODIs more this year and Brendon McCullum will be the captain in all if he is fit to play. Chance for him to score 50+ sixes as captain in consecutive years.
At present, AB de Villiers is at the peak of his career and breaking some or the other record almost every day. The fans and viewers are having a great time watching him and hope that he goes on doing the same as long as possible!