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Six sixes in an over

Herschelle Gibbs has become the first player to hit six sixes in an over in a World Cup game. This CNN video on YouTube talks through the event. The 2007 World Cup is taking place in the West Indies...luckily I'll be over there next month to catch a few games in Barbados.

I had the pleasure of playing alongside Herschelle while I played for Avendale in Cape Town years ago (in 1992 - before he made his debut for South Africa). He was a talented and confident player in those days with a great belief in his own abilities - a nice guy too. He was also a phenomenal rugby player and could have represented South Africa in either sport, but - wisely it seems - he chose the cricket path.

What is 'Six sixes in an over?'

In case you're not familiar with cricket: a 'six' is when the batter hits the ball over the boundary (the playing area) without the ball touching the ground along the way - similar to a homerun in baseball. Hitting a six isn't that unsual. Hitting two one after the other happens from time to time. Hitting three in a row is getting into the realms of unusual.

The 'six sixes' refers to there being six deliveries (or 'pitches' in baseball) in an over, so hitting all six deliveries in an over for 'six', one after the other, is an astounding feat that requires a lot skill obviously, but also requires lots of luck for everything happen just right. Hopefully the video makes more sense now :-)

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Thanks to Korby for passing on the news.

Posted: Mar 17 2007, 12:40 PM by alexbarnett | with 3 comment(s)
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Comments

Nigel Parker said:

And Pakistan (minus a small miracle) have been knocked out of the World Cup by Ireland on St Patties Day!

http://www.digg.com/other_sports/Ireland_beats_Pakistan_in_Cricket

I must admit as a kiwi I'm still enjoying this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_One-day_International_cricket_records#Largest_successful_run_chases

# March 18, 2007 2:04 AM

alexbarnett said:

Nigel - I heard the news of Ireland's win earlier today, and am delighted that I'll be able to remind one of my best friends  (of Pakistani origin and with whom I happen to be spending a whole 10 days with in West Indies) of this fact. Repeadtly, I might add. Thank you for the reminder :-)

# March 18, 2007 2:34 AM

Korby Parnell said:

My pleasure. I look forward to hearing your take on the great Cricket Crisis of 2007. I'm sure you've followed it much more closely than I.

Congratulations to Herschelle Gibbs and the people of Ireland.

# March 23, 2007 7:51 PM