Hat-Trick in Cricket — What It Is, Famous Examples & Records
A hat-trick is three wickets in three consecutive deliveries by the same bowler. Learn what counts, the famous hat-tricks in World Cups, and the record holders.
A hat-trick in cricket occurs when a bowler takes three wickets with three consecutive deliveries in the same match. The three balls do not need to be in the same over — the third wicket can carry across from the last ball of one over to the first ball of the next, or even span innings. Hat-tricks are rare and celebrated achievements, considered among the most exciting moments in bowling.
Does a Hat-Trick Have to Be in the Same Over?
No. The three consecutive deliveries can straddle over boundaries or even innings boundaries. If a bowler takes the last wicket of one over, then comes back to bowl and takes the first two wickets of their next over, that counts as a hat-trick. Similarly, the last wicket of an innings and the first two of the next innings (in Test cricket) also count.
Famous Cricket Hat-Tricks
- Wasim Akram — First bowler to take hat-tricks in both ODIs and Tests
- Chaminda Vaas — Hat-trick off the first three balls of an ODI vs Bangladesh (2003 World Cup), the earliest hat-trick in a match
- Lasith Malinga — Only bowler to take two hat-tricks in ODI World Cups (2007 and 2011) and the first to take 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls in ODIs
- Mohammed Shami — Hat-trick in the final over to help India beat Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup
- Stuart Broad — Test hat-trick vs India at Trent Bridge, 2011
Lasith Malinga — The King of Hat-Tricks
Lasith Malinga is the most celebrated hat-trick bowler in cricket history. His 2007 World Cup hat-trick came during one of the most extraordinary spells ever: he took 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls against South Africa, including 4 in a row that were all out for 0. The ICC later officially recognised the 4-in-4 as a unique achievement. He repeated the hat-trick feat in the 2011 World Cup against Kenya, making him the only bowler with two World Cup hat-tricks.
Chaminda Vaas — First Ball Hat-Trick (2003 World Cup)
vs Bangladesh, Pietermaritzburg, February 2003. Vaas dismissed three Bangladesh batters (Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful, Ehsanul Haque) off the first three balls of the match — the only hat-trick taken before a single run was scored in a World Cup match.
Hat-Tricks in Test Cricket
Test hat-tricks are extremely rare because bowlers often don't bowl consecutive overs. The first Test hat-trick was taken by England's Billy Bates in 1883 against Australia. Irfan Pathan holds the distinction of the fastest Test hat-trick — he took wickets off the first three balls of the first over of a Test match against Pakistan in 2006.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hat-trick span two different matches?
No. The three consecutive wickets must occur within the same match. A wicket at the end of one match and two at the start of the next does not count.
Who took the first hat-trick in cricket history?
The first recorded hat-trick in first-class cricket was taken by HH Stephenson in 1858. The first Test hat-trick was by Billy Bates for England vs Australia in 1883.
How many hat-tricks has Lasith Malinga taken?
Lasith Malinga took multiple hat-tricks across formats: two in ODI World Cups (the only bowler to do so), plus hat-tricks in ODIs and T20Is, making him the most prolific hat-trick bowler in international cricket.