Kapil Dev's four consecutive sixes off Eddie Hemmings remains a unique achievement? (9 August 2002)

With the numerous six-hitters that abound on the international stage today - Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, to name a few - one would have thought that four sixes in a row, struck by Kapil Dev off Eddie Hemmings in the early 90s, could hardly stand as a record. But stand it does, and stoutly too.

But those sixes, more than being just a statistical curiosity, are famous for the situation they came in and for the cricketer who struck them. India, requiring 24 runs to avoid a follow-on at Lord's, had just Narendra Hirwani's wicket in hand, and Kapil Dev realised that Hirwani's batting skills were not exactly top-drawer.

Accordingly, after playing the first two balls of Hemmings' 20th over defensively, Kapil proceeded to free his arms, lofting the ball over the ropes four times in succession. These, furthermore, were no mere across-the-line slogs, but scientifically lusty hits, designed to do just what they did - clear that boundary.

Kapil Dev's faith - or lack thereof - in Hirwani proved to have been spot-on, for Angus Fraser cleaned him up with the very next delivery. India had avoided the follow-on, and although they could not save the Test, Kapil's sixes earned yet another slot in the record books for a man who spent his entire career being as gloriously uninhibited as he was that afternoon.

For more details on all the above facts check out [ StatsGuru ]

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