Stats: New Zealand break world record for most sixes in a Test innings
With 19 sixes in the first innings of the third and final Test against Pakistan, at Sharjah, New Zealand have broken the world record for the most number of sixes in a Test innings, beating Australia’s record of 17 maximums against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003.
In reply to the home team’s first innings score of 351, New Zealand, powered by centuries from McCullum (202 off 188) and Kane Williamson (192 off 244), have scored 637/8 at stumps on Day 3. With the play suspended on Day 1 in the aftermath of Phillip Hughes’ tragic death after being hit by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in Australia, the Kiwis, trailing the series 0-1, needed to be aggressive to make a game out of this fixture and they have done exactly that by scoring at 4.90 runs per over.
With a lead of 286 runs and a minimum of 180 overs remaining, the visitors have put themselves in a great position to push for a win and, in turn, level the series. It would be interesting to see if McCullum waits for his team to be all-out or declares early.
Here is the list of teams with the most number of sixes in an innings in Test cricket:
| By | Against | Sixes | Year | Venue |
| New Zealand | Pakistan | 22 | 2014 | Sharjah |
| Australia | Zimbabwe | 17 | 2003 | Perth |
| Pakistan | New Zealand | 15 | 2002 | Lahore |
| India | Sri Lanka | 15 | 2009 | Mumbai |
| South Africa | West Indies | 15 | 2010 | Bassetere |
| Pakistan | Zimbabwe | 13 | 1996 | Sheikhpura |
| New Zealand | South Africa | 13 | 2004 | Auckland |
| Pakistan | England | 13 | 2005 | Faisalabad |
The Test has already seen a slew of records being broken, but the cricketers, still recovering from the sad loss of Hughes, haven’t displayed any emotions on the field.
Note: Stats updated till November 30, 2014