Kamran Akmal Claims Don Bradman Never Hit a 6 in Tests

Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal recently made the incorrect claim that legendary Australian batsman Sir Don Bradman never hit a six during his Test career. This claim appeared during a television discussion on the subject of Bradman's unparalleled batting record. When the host of the show queried this statement, Akmal defended his position, asserting that Bradman did not hit any sixes in his Test matches.

However, this claim is not accurate. According to official cricket records, Sir Don Bradman did indeed hit six sixes throughout his 52-match Test career. ESPNcricinfo corroborates these statistics, highlighting Bradman's remarkable 6,996 Test runs at an extraordinary average of 99.94, which included 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries. Despite his preference for grounded play, Bradman's batting style only allowed him to hit a total of six sixes.

The six sixes were all hit against left-arm bowlers. The first six was hit against England during the historic 1932-33 Bodyline series in Adelaide, when Bradman managed to hit left-arm spinner Hedley Verity over the boundary. He went on to hit four more sixes in the 1934 Ashes series in England. The final six, coming more than 13 years later, was against India in Adelaide during the 1947-48 series, where he struck Vinoo Mankad for six.

Thus, the claim made by Kamran Akmal is incorrect. Don Bradman indeed hit six sixes during his Test career, despite his preference for shot selection that kept the ball on the ground.