Shahid Afridi had scored just five runs in the previous two overs and he had clearly had enough.

He had already notched up a run-a-ball 60 which included four boundaries and three sixes and Pakistan, too, were motoring along at 564/4 in 133 overs in the first innings of the opening Test against India at Lahore in 2006.

There was no real need for what ensued, but with Afridi there's really never any need.

Before the start of the 136th over, he told batting partner Kamran Akmal he would attempt six sixes, a feat never achieved in Test cricket.

Akmal merely replied with a “good luck.”

The bowler, Harbhajan Singh, had little clue of the conversation that had taken place but soon found out.

6,6,6,6,2,1 read the figures as India's premier spinner gasped for air.

Pakistan rocketed to 606/5 from 579/5 as Afridi hammered 27 runs in the over, falling just one short of the record for the most runs in an over in Tests jointly held by Brian Lara and George Bailey.

Afridi was eventually dismissed for 103 off 80 balls.

After the game, the flamboyant all-rounder said he was just playing his “natural game”.