As England gears up for their series-deciding Test against Pakistan, a unique contest stole the spotlight during practice – a six-hitting competition between coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
Both cricketers, known for their power-hitting, took part in a friendly rivalry ahead of the Rawalpindi Test.
During the contest, Stokes and McCullum took turns batting on the Rawalpindi outfield, with a dog thrower delivering the ball.
Stokes went first but mishit his shot, which fell short of the boundary. McCullum seized the opportunity, sending his first attempt sailing into the netting with ease.
Stokes responded with a successful six on his second try, but McCullum's next shot flew into the stands, sealing his victory 2-1.
Stokes responded to defeat by coach Brendon McCullum in a special six-hitting contest by reminding him that he was still top of the Test sixes list – and had also taken his wicket.
England head coach Brendon McCullum beat skipper Ben Stokes as the duo engaged in a six-hitting battle a day ahead of the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, which starts on Thursday, October 23. Stokes missed both chances while batting in the nets, while McCullum nailed one straight for a massive six.
Notably, Stokes and McCullum have the most sixes in Test cricket. Stokes is at the top of the table with 131 in 106 games. The former New Zealand swashbuckling opener had smashed 107 sixes in 101 Tests. Adam Gilchrist of Australia is the only other player to have hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Sharing the video on X, England Cricket’s official handle wrote:
Watch the clip below:
Most sixes in Test history:1️⃣ Ben Stokes - 1312️⃣ Brendon McCullum - 107What better time for a little competition then? 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D3w0VCZHKj
Overall, McCullum has 398 sixes in international cricket. He is only behind Rohit Sharma (623*), Chris Gayle (553) and Shahid Afridi (476).
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has smashed 262 maximums across formats so far.
Stokes vs McCullum: A Battle Of Sixes
The Battle for the Boundary
The competition was a fun way to break up the monotony of the training session. Both Stokes and McCullum are known for their power-hitting abilities, so the contest was a match-up of equals.
The Aftermath of the Contest
Despite the defeat, Stokes was in good spirits. He reminded McCullum that he still holds the world record for most sixes in Test cricket and that he had also taken his wicket in the past.
England's Preparations For the Third Test
England will now shift focus from the lighthearted contest to the more serious task at hand – winning the third and final Test in Rawalpindi.
The Road to Rawalpindi: A Tale of Two Tests
The three-match Test series is evenly poised at 1-1. England won the opening game by an innings and 47 runs. Pakistan won the second match by 152 runs to register their first home Test victory after 11 games.
England will look to bounce back from their defeat in the second Test and secure a series win. The team has made changes to their lineup, opting for three spinners in response to the spin-friendly conditions. Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson have been added to the squad, replacing Brydon Carse and Matt Potts.
Ben Stokes has revealed that he would bat first if he wins the toss in Rawalpindi owing to spin-friendly conditions. Notably, England have included an extra spinner in the form of Rehan Ahmed for the third Test alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
Stokes recently told BBC (via Cricket Pakistan):
England Playing XI for the Third Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Pakistan's Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
The Final Countdown
The third Test is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to secure a series victory. The match will be played in Rawalpindi, a venue known for its spin-friendly conditions.
England will be hoping to continue their recent success in Test cricket, while Pakistan will be looking to build on their recent home victory.
The third Test promises to be a tense and exciting contest, and fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the outcome. This contest promises to be a nail-biter with both teams desperate to secure a series win.
