It’s no wonder that massive blockbusters excite fans and become hot topics for years to come. Interestingly, several former cricketers and pundits have stated that such big hits should be given extra credit. Still, the precision and reliability of technology, which is constantly under review when measuring such distances, has never given these arguments any weight. It’s always enjoyable to reminisce about some of the game’s most memorable moments, so let’s look at the longest sixes ever hit in international cricket.
1. Shahid Afridi || 153 meters vs. South Africa
Afridi is usually regarded as one of cricket’s most dangerous players. Afridi was an all-rounder who bowled leg-spin and was known for his aggressive hitting. Afridi was also a global record holder for the fastest ODI century, achieving 37 deliveries. Corey Anderson shattered the record, which had stood for 17 years. Shahid Afridi is a name that consistently appears at the top of lists like these, and it’s no surprise that he holds the record for the longest six hits in international cricket. For the distance it covered, this six he smashed off Ryan McLaren is one of the most talked-about sixes in cricket history.
2. Brett Lee || 130 meters vs. England
Brett Lee was a member of the Australian squad that won the World Cup in 2003. He made his Test debut in 1999 and announced his retirement from international cricket on July 12, 2012. Lee concluded his Test career with 310 wickets and 380 wickets in One Day Internationals. From 2000 to 2009, only Muttiah Muralitharan got more ODI wickets than Lee, regarded as one of the finest bowlers of his period. Among the many entries on our list of longest sixes, few are as well-remembered as Brett Lee’s tremendous strike against West Indies, which came from the most unlikely places. In this game, Brett Lee contributed 47 runs for the home team at the Gabba, but the only six he hit in this at-bat is remembered to this day.
The one that comes to mind is the 2005 Ashes Test at Edgbaston, where he came close to saving Australia from a dismal situation in what turned out to be a gripping thriller of a game. Despite being an aggressive character, Lee rarely allowed his emotions to get the best of him on the field. He enjoyed taking on opponents, but he was also a gracious loser when things didn’t go his way, frequently accepting defeat with his signature grin. Lee was a gentleman off the field and had good camaraderie with opposing players. He was also one of the few Australian players who was liked in India.
3. Martin Guptill || 127 meters vs South Africa
Guptill is the first New Zealand cricketer and the sixth overall to make a double century in a One Day International match. His 237 not-out holds the highest individual score in Cricket World Cup matches and the second-best score in One Day Internationals. Guptill’s left foot has only two toes. He lost three toes in a forklift accident when 13 years old. He is known as “Two Toes” within the New Zealand cricket team. Martin Guptill of New Zealand is an unsurprising name on this list, having dazzled cricket fans with his incredible power-hitting on numerous occasions. In a T20I match against South Africa in 2012, he smashed possibly the greatest six of his career against Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Martin Guptill’s ODI average is 43.51, while his World Cup average is 57. The main disadvantage is that the opener has scored these runs against teams with a weak bowling attack. He’s had to contend with teams like Australia, South Africa, and England. Guptill will face all of the teams in the World Cup at least once, so he must ensure that he gets runs against the weaker opponents and the heavyweights.