White-ball cricket is all about going big, and there is no better way of doing that than by smashing the ball high into the stands. Fans, whether they be inside the stadium or watching on from afar, are looking to be entertained and want plenty of reason to get on their feet.
Limited-over formats of the game deliver excitement by the bucketload, whether that be across 20 or 50 overs, with wickets tending to fall quickly while scorecards are ticked along as quickly as possible.
Heavy-hitting
Any team that masters both of those arts can expect to come into contention for major honors, with T20 World Cup odds about to narrow focus on another pursuit of global glory in Australia.
The hosts are expected to go well at +275, along with +330 shots India and +375 England – with those prices correct as of October 6 – as market leaders boast heavy-hitting batsmen and skilful bowlers within their respective ranks.
Those taking guard towards the top of any international order will be expected to deliver fireworks Down Under, with the intention being to clear many a rope with some hefty blows into the crowd, but who has hit the most sixes in the 15-year history of T20 World Cups?
1. Chris Gayle – 63
The self-styled ‘Universe Boss’ proved to be the most devastating of openers for the West Indies, with his game having never been about running between the wickets.
Gayle would much rather save himself the effort of expending any energy by crashing the ball high into the stands, and sometimes out of the ground completely.
He averaged 34.46 in T20 World Cup outings, hitting 965 runs in total, and boasts an impressive strike rate of 142.75 which goes to further highlight just how destructive he was when taking to the middle.
2. Yuvraj Singh – 33
A cricketing legend in India, Yuvraj was a sight to behold when operating at the peak of his powers – at least for everybody other than the opponents he was giving nightmares to. All about timing and power, there were few better sights than watching a master of his art send collective heads spinning as he plundered another six over a group of helpless fielders. He did that on plenty of occasions when gracing a T20 World Cup stage, with 38 fours thrown into the mix for good measure, but was a little all-or-nothing as he averaged just 23.72 across 31 matches.
3. Shane Watson – 31
An Australian all-rounder who could be as dangerous with the ball in hand as he was with a bat, Watson starred for the Baggy Greens as they enjoyed an era of dominance in white-ball cricket. Major silverware aplenty was collected by a man now passing on his knowledge in IPL as a coach. That wisdom should rub off on those around him, with there few men better placed to discuss and perfect the art of scoring freely and quickly.
4. Rohit Sharma – 31
Anybody with four T20 centuries and 27 half-centuries to their name clearly has a bit about them, and Rohit has cemented a reputation as one of the very best in the business.
A national hero to an adoring fan base in India, expect him to close the gap on Gayle before the day comes to hang up a bat for good. Any thoughts of retirement should be put on hold for some time yet, with an all-time great showing no sign of slowing down as he seeks to maintain remarkable individual standards.
5. David Warner – 31
Another of those who will be looking to edge his way towards the top of a big-hitting pecking order, Aussie opener Warner takes some stopping when the arms are flowing and he is spotting deliveries like a beach ball ready to be sent fizzing into orbit.
It is often his responsibility to set the tone for Australia, with it important for early markers to be put down whether going first and posting a score or looking to chase one down.
Eyes on the prize
England captain Jos Buttler – who has established a reputation as one of the very best in the business – will have his sights set on breaking into a notable top five over the coming weeks, while plenty of others boast the ability to start rapidly climbing six-hitting standings as collective eyes become locked on the grandest of prizes.