AB de Villiers - First batsman to hit 50 sixes in ODIs and 60 sixes in International cricket in a calendar year

AB de Villiers has hit the highest number of ODI sixes 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!