What is a hat-trick in cricket? All you need to know

A hat-trick in cricket is a scenario where one bowler dismisses three batters in successive deliveries.

However, there are certain conditions for a bowler to claim a hat-trick in cricket. Firstly, the deliveries must be bowled by an individual bowler in the same match. The bowler can claim a hat-trick in cricket even if his three wickets in successive deliveries are spread across different overs.

E.g.1: If Jasprit Bumrah claims a wicket on the last delivery of his first over and then two scalps in the first two deliveries of his second over, it means Bumrah has claimed a hat-trick in a cricket match.

E.g.2: If Tim Southee claims two wickets on the last two deliveries of his first over and a wicket on the first ball he bowls in his second over, it means Southee has claimed a hat-trick in a cricket match.

In Test or First Class cricket, the hat-trick in cricket rule can spread across innings.

E.g.: If James Anderson claims two consecutive wickets in the first innings and the third off the first ball in the second innings, it means Anderson has claimed a hat-trick in a cricket match.

A hat-trick in cricket is considered legal only if the three successive dismissals are counted as a caught behind, direct bowled, leg-before-wicket (LBW) and stumpings.

What are the types of hat-tricks in cricket?

There are two notable types of hat-tricks in cricket, a double hat-trick and a team hat-trick.

Double hat-trick: When a bowler claims four wickets in four successive deliveries, they are said to have claimed a double hat-trick in cricket.

Team hat-trick: When a bowler takes two wickets in successive deliveries and the wicket on the third ball bowled is a run-out affected by the bowler or a fielder, it is termed a team hat-trick.

Another way of getting a team hat-trick is if a bowler gets one wicket, followed by a run-out and then the bowler gets another scalp off the third successive ball.

Who claimed the first hat-trick in cricket?

Australia’s Fred Spofforth is the first bowler to take a hat-trick in international cricket.

During the first innings of Australia’s Test against England in 1879, Spofforth claimed the wickets of England’s Vernon Royle, Francis Mackinnon and Tom Emmett in consecutive deliveries.

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / IAN KINGTON