Marco Jansen Creates History
Jansen smashed seven sixes in his innings, which set the world record for the most sixes in an innings from a number nine or below batter in Test cricket's rich history. The record previously belonged to Zimbabwe star Andy Blignaut.
Jansen's tally is also the best against India in Test cricket, breaking a record held by Wasim Akram (5) since 1987. It is also shared by Moeen Ali and Kemar Roach.
Most Sixes By A Number 9 Or Below Batter In Test Cricket History By An Away Batter
| Player | Sixes | Opponent | Year | Venue |
| Marco Jansen | 7 | India | 2025 | Guwahati |
| Andy Blignau | 6 | South Africa | 2005 | Cape Town |
| Michael Holding | 4 | England | 1984 | Leeds |
| Wasim Akram | 5 | India | 1987 | Chennai |
| Mitchell Johnson | 5 | South Africa | 2009 | Johannesburg |
| Mark Wood | 5 | South Africa | 2020 | Gqerbha |
| Moeen Ali | 5 | India | 2021 | Chennai |
| Noman Ali | 5 | Zimbabwe | 2021 | Harare |
Marco Jansen Breaks Viv Richards' Record
Jansen broke Viv Richards and Matthew Hayden's record for the most sixes in an innings by a visiting batter in India. The West Indies cricket legend had hit six maixmums in a Test match at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium in 1974, while Hayden did the same in 2001 against India.
# Marco Jansen Creates History: Breaks Viv Richards' 51-Year-Old Record; Becomes First Player In the World To Hit Seven Sixes In A Test Innings Away From Home From Number 9 Or Below
In the cauldron of Test cricket, where pressure cooks legends and crushes pretenders, South Africa's Marco Jansen just turned the heat up to eleven. On Day 2 of the second Test against India at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati (November 23, 2025), the 25-year-old all-rounder unleashed a brutal 93-run blitz from the No. 9 spot, smashing seven sixes that echoed like thunderclaps across the Assam hills. It wasn't just a knock—it was a demolition derby on the bowlers, rewriting record books long guarded by icons like Viv Richards. As the dust settled on South Africa's first innings total of 375, Jansen walked off unbeaten in spirit, having etched his name in cricket's pantheon of audacious feats.
This wasn't some tailender's afterthought; it was a statement. Batting alongside Senuran Muthusamy (who notched a gritty maiden Test ton earlier), Jansen faced 91 balls, blending calculated fury with raw power. Six fours and those seven maximums propelled South Africa from a precarious overnight 202/7 to a commanding position, frustrating India's attack led by the wily Kuldeep Yadav (who eventually snared him for 93). But the numbers? They're the stuff of highlight reels and history lessons.
## The Explosive Innings: From Survival to Spectacle
Jansen strode in when South Africa teetered, needing stability more than fireworks. What followed was 93 runs of pure adrenaline:
- **Strike Rate:** A blistering 102.20, turning defense into dominance.
- **Boundaries Breakdown:** 6 fours + 7 sixes = 13 boundaries in 91 balls.
- **Key Moments:** He toyed with India's spinners, lofting Ravindra Jadeja into the stands twice and sending Kuldeep for a trio of sixes. One particular blow over long-on off Jadeja sailed 90 meters, leaving fielders in awe.
Dismissed just seven runs shy of a debut century at No. 9 (LBW to Kuldeep), Jansen's vigil ended the innings, but not before handing India a tricky chase on a wearing pitch. South Africa lead by 73 runs at stumps, with India 302/7 in their first dig—setting up a nail-biter for Day 3.
## Records Shattered: Jansen's Assault on History
Jansen didn't just score runs; he swung a sledgehammer at cricket's archives. Here's the trio of milestones he crushed:
| Record Broken | Previous Holder(s) | Jansen's Feat | Year of Previous Record |
|---------------|---------------------|---------------|-------------------------|
| Most sixes by a visiting batter in a Test innings **in India** | Viv Richards (6, vs India, Delhi 1974) & Matthew Hayden (6, vs India, Chennai 2001) | 7 sixes | 51 years (Richards) & 24 years (Hayden) |
| Most sixes in a Test innings **away from home from No. 9 or below** | Andy Blignaut (6, Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh, 2004) | 7 sixes (First ever) | 21 years |
| Most sixes against India in Test cricket (overall, per some stats; equals in single innings) | Wasim Akram (5) & Shahid Afridi (7 in one innings vs India, 2006) | 7 sixes (ties Afridi for single innings) | 38 years (Akram) |
- **Viv Richards' 51-Year Mark:** The Master Blaster's six-hitting spree in Delhi '74 was untouchable—until Jansen. This cements him as the overseas aggressor supreme on Indian soil.
- **Global First for Tailenders:** No. 9 and below? Seven sixes abroad? Unheard of. Jansen's the pioneer, blending batting bravado with his 6'8" frame for those towering blows.
- **Bonus Stat:** His 93 is the **second-highest score by a visiting No. 9+ batter in India**, trailing only Mitchell Starc's epic 99 vs India in 2017.
These aren't flukes; they're fueled by Jansen's evolution from a raw pacer (72 Test wickets at 23) to a bona fide lower-order beast. As one pundit tweeted: "Jansen isn't just tall—he's a towering threat."
## Match Context: South Africa's Resilience in the Desert
This Guwahati thriller caps a see-saw series. India dominated the series opener in Cape Town, but South Africa fought back here: Muthusamy's 112 (his first Test hundred) set the tone, frustrating Jasprit Bumrah & Co. for nearly five hours. Jansen's fireworks turned a potential collapse into a lead, exposing India's spin vulnerabilities on a slow track. With Aiden Markram's 106 in the first innings, the Proteas have clawed back pride after a lean year.
India, chasing history in their 14th straight home Test win, now stare at a deficit. Rohit Sharma (unbeaten on 40*) and Rishabh Pant hold the fort, but Day 3 could swing on the spinners. Weather? Clear skies, full drama.
## Reactions: From Awe to "What Just Happened?"
Cricket Twitter erupted faster than one of Jansen's sixes:
- **AB de Villiers (ex-SA captain):** "Marco Jansen! What a player. That innings will be talked about for years. Proud of the boys!"
- **Harsha Bhogle (commentator):** "From Viv to Jansen: 51 years later, the six-hitting record in India falls to a No. 9. Cricket's beautiful chaos."
- Fans: "Tailenders hitting more sixes than openers? Test cricket is alive!" (Viral meme: Jansen towering over Richards' silhouette.)
Critics? Minimal—save for India's bowlers nursing egos. Jansen's post-match (via team statement): "Just backing myself. The ball was coming on nicely; wanted to get us ahead."
## The Legacy: Why This Matters Beyond the Stats
In an era of T20 pyrotechnics bleeding into Tests, Jansen's knock is a reminder: Red-ball cricket thrives on the unexpected. Breaking Richards' record—a batsman who redefined aggression—is poetic. For South Africa, it's a morale booster; for Jansen, a launchpad to all-round stardom.
As the Guwahati sun sets on Day 2, one thing's clear: Marco Jansen didn't just break a record—he bent the game to his will. Will India rally, or will SA seal a famous win? Tune in tomorrow. Cricket, you unpredictable beast.
What's your take—greatest tailender innings ever? Drop it in the comments. Let's debate.
*Disclaimer: Scores and stats as of stumps Day 2, Nov 23, 2025. Follow live updates on official ICC/SA channels.*
