Top 10 Batsmen with most sixes in a calendar year in ODIs

Top 10 Batsmen with most sixes in a calendar year in ODIs: In the game of cricket, the ball flying in the air and landing over the boundary ropes into the stands is the most awesome sight for the spectators watching the game (bowlers are not very fond of this sight). The crowd loves it. Sixes mesmerise the crowd, some are jaw dropping and leave them stunned and excited at the same time. With the introduction of limited-overs cricket way back in the 70’s, hitting sixes has become more common. It adds spice to the viewing experience and keeps the interest alive. Some players are just born for big hitting. Some batsmen do it in an orthodox way while others just see that ball and make disappear out of their sight. These players are among the most followed cricketers since the entertainment quotient involved in their game is the highest. Here we look at the list of Top 10 Batsmen with most sixes in a calendar year in ODIs: 10. Brendon McCullum – 32 sixes, 2015: Brendon McCullum. (© Getty Images) The brawny New Zealander is No.10 in this list. Brendon McCullum fears no bowler. He can scoop the fastest bowlers for sixes over the wicket-keeper’s head or can just simply stand and clear the ropes. McCullum is having a fantastic time with the bat this year. In the 22 innings he played, McCullum has hit 32 sixes so far. He also has a very impressive strike rate of 148.94 this year. Also Read – Top 10 Batsmen fastest to 100 sixes in ODIs 9. Yuvraj Singh – 33 sixes, 2007: Yuvraj Singh. (© Getty Images) It is very difficult to overlook his name if we are talking about big hitting batsmen. It is always highly unexpected that he would miss a chance to send the ball across the ropes. In 2007, Yuvraj smashed 33 sixes in 33 innings (which includes 6 sixes he hit against Stuart Broad in the World T20). Also, it was a very positive year for Yuvi as he had a very impressive run with the bat in terms of scoring runs. He had scored 1287 runs at a decent average of 45.96. 8. MS Dhoni – 34 sixes, 2005: MS Dhoni. (© SEBASTIAN D’SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) It was in the year 2005 when Dhoni announced himself as a match –winner in international cricket. His 183 runs innings against Sri Lanka was the trailer of what was to come in the years to roll ahead. Dhoni had 895 runs to his name at a decent strike rate of 103.11 that year. His 34 sixes were the most by any batsman in 2005. 7. Matthew Hayden – 35 sixes, 2007: Matthew Hayden. (Photo Source: AFP) Matthew Hayden can be described as ‘purely dangerous.’ Broad shouldered and barrel chested physically, Hayden was a effortless hitter of the cricket ball. He was in tremendous form in 2007, having scored 1601 runs in 32 matches at an outstanding average of 59.29. He had also hit 35 sixes that year. 6. Sourav Ganguly – 35 sixes, 2000: Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Sourav Ganguly switch to the aggressive mode from being conservative in no time. It was his ability to hit mammoth sixes which was a point of discussion among fans. Ganguly had a very good year with the bat in 2000. He had amassed 1579 runs at an average of nearly 58 runs. ‘Dada’ had also cracked 35 sixes in the year. 5. Shahid Afridi – 37 sixes, 2005: Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: AFP) When it comes to hitting sixes, Shahid Afridi needs no introduction. Before the likes of AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni and McCullum came into existence; Afridi would wield the bat in his hand and slam sixes as if he was specially made to do so. Fans lovingly call him ‘Boom Boom’ and there is a reason behind it. Afridi hit 37 sixes in 2005. Although he scored only 640 runs that year, he had maintained a very good strike rate of 157.63. 4. Sachin Tendulkar – 40 sixes, 1998: Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Sachin Tendulkar’s name features in this list too. We all know that Sachin was more aggressive with the bat during the 90’s and had to restrain himself after few injuries. In 1998, when Tendulkar was almost at his peak, he had amassed a record 1894 runs at an extraordinary average 65.31. His giant batting efforts also included 40 sixes, the most by any batsman that year. 3. Shane Watson – 42 sixes, 2011: Shane Watson. (Photo Source: BCCI) This burly fast bowler turned batsman is a known clean striker of the ball. He can muscle the ball on both sides of the ground. Shane Watson finds the No. 3 position this list. He hit 42 sixes in the year 2011. Watson scored 1139 runs that year with his highest score being 185* which came against Bangladesh in the World Cup 2011. 2. Shahid Afridi – 48 sixes, 2002: Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: AFP) Shahid Afridi features one more time in the list. Afridi hit 48 sixes in the year 2002. He was at his prime with the bat during that time with a much vicious approach to deal with the bowlers. This record stood for over a decade until AB de Villiers broke it in 2015. 1. AB de Villiers – 58 sixes, 2015: AB de Villiers. (© PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images) AB de Villiers is a modern master. He is hailed as the only complete batsman in the world right now, he can hit the ball anywhere in the ground almost at will. Words alone are not enough to describe this wondrous batting prodigy. In the past couple of years, he has been on a record-breaking spree. So far in this year, AB de Villiers has cracked 58 gigantic sixes. Also Read – Top 10 Batsmen with most sixes in ODI cricket (All Stats Updated Till 13th December, 2015)