Famous Hat-Tricks in Cricket — Test, ODI and T20I Examples
Famous cricket hat-tricks across formats: Wasim Akram's 1999 World Cup hat-trick, Lasith Malinga's four-in-four, Brett Lee's T20I hat-trick, Test hat-tricks, and the rules around how hat-tricks are awarded in cricket.
A hat-trick in cricket — taking three wickets in three consecutive deliveries — is one of the game's rarest and most celebrated achievements. The term originated in 19th century cricket, when a bowler who achieved the feat was rewarded with a new hat. Today, hat-tricks are celebrated across all formats, with ODI World Cup hat-tricks among the most famous moments in cricket history.
Wasim Akram's 1999 World Cup Hat-Trick
Wasim Akram's hat-trick against Australia in the 1999 ODI World Cup at Headingley, Leeds, remains one of the most significant in cricket history. He dismissed Damien Fleming, Shane Lee, and Glenn McGrath in consecutive deliveries — three tail-enders, but in the crucial context of restricting Australia's total. Pakistan won the match. Wasim's swinging yorker hat-trick ball against McGrath is still replayed as a demonstration of perfect death bowling.
Lasith Malinga's Four Wickets in Four Balls
Lasith Malinga achieved something more than a hat-trick — he took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries against South Africa in the 2007 ODI World Cup. He dismissed Robin Peterson, Andrew Hall, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini in consecutive balls. South Africa were effectively destroyed by the sequence; Malinga's round-arm slinging action generated pace and angles that made him near-unplayable. No bowler has taken four in four in a World Cup since.
Test Hat-Tricks
Test hat-tricks are extremely rare — fewer than 50 have been recorded in over 2,000 Tests. Peter Petherick (New Zealand, 1976) dismissed Greg Chappell, Gary Cosier, and Rod Marsh on the first ball of each in the same over in a Test against Australia — taking a hat-trick at his very first Test wicket. Stuart Broad's hat-trick against Sri Lanka in 2011 at Trent Bridge is among England's most celebrated bowling moments.
T20I Hat-Tricks
T20I hat-tricks are more common than Test hat-tricks because bowlers attack from ball one and batters take more risks. Wanindu Hasaranga's T20I hat-trick against South Africa in 2021 — dismissing De Kock, Van der Dussen, and Miller in consecutive balls — is one of the most celebrated in the format. Ryan McLaren and several other spinners and pace bowlers have also achieved T20I hat-tricks.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hat-trick have to occur in the same over?
No — a hat-trick can span over boundaries, innings changes, or even match changes. The deliveries must be consecutive balls bowled by the same bowler. A bowler can take 2 wickets at the end of one innings and the first of the next to complete a hat-trick.
What happens if a wicket is a no-ball?
A wicket off a no-ball does not count — the batter is not out. If a bowler takes 2 legal wickets then bowls a no-ball (no wicket), the hat-trick sequence is broken. No-balls reset the consecutive wicket count.
Who has the most hat-tricks in international cricket?
Lasith Malinga holds the record with three international hat-tricks across all formats. His ability to generate yorkers and slower balls with his round-arm sling action made him uniquely dangerous for batters late in their innings.