The World Test Championship Final in Southampton may have been adversely affected by intermittent rains, but the contest between India and New Zealand saw Kiwi fast bowler Tim Southee eclipse the batting records of Indian ‘legend’ Sachin Tendulkar, Australia’s Ricky Ponting and South Africa’s AB de Villiers among others. This was after Southee hit the 75th six of his Test career during the match.
It took Southee just 79 matches and 111 innings to achieve the feat. Tendulkar has just 69 sixes to his credit in his Test career comprising 200 matches and 329 innings.
Southee has left behind several batting stalwarts from around the world including Australia’s Ricky Ponting, Clive Llyod from West Indies, Younus Khan from Pakistan and AB de Villiers from South Africa among others.
de Villiers scored 64 sixes in 114 Test matches and 191 innings, while Ponting hit 73 sixes during his career covering 168 Test matches and 287 innings.
Tim Southee now has 75 sixes in Test cricket, overtaking Ricky Ponting in that innings. Dhoni, you’re next. #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/8TgP7ERvpu
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 22, 2021
Tim Southee’s teammate Brendon McCullum holds the record of hitting the most number of sixes in Test matches. In 101 Test matches and 176 innings, McCullum has hit 107 sixes, while Adam Gilchrist from Australia is close behind with 100 sixes in 96 Test matches and 137 innings.
India’s Virendra Sehwag is placed fifth in the list of batsmen, who’ve hit the most number sixes in Test matches. Sehwag has 91 sixes to his credit after playing 104 Test matches in 180 innings for India.
As for the World Test Championship, New Zealand were bowled out for 249 after the Kiwis bowled India out for 217 in their first innings. Southee, who scored 30 in 45 balls in New Zealand’s first innings, was the tormentor-in-chief for Indians with his bowling as he took four wickets in the second innings.
India’s performance in the second innings in the rain-affected final has been even worse with Indian batsmen struggling to negotiate the pace attack of New Zealand bowlers.
They were all out for 170 in their second innings shortly after the tea on the sixth day of the match. This has now brightened the chances of a result in the match.