“Oh, he’s got a hat-trick!” – It is likely that you have come across something like this while viewing a cricket game.
The wordings of the commentators are quite rare, since a hat-trick is an infrequent occurrence in cricket. But then again, there is one thing that is even more difficult to witness than this.
What is that? you inquired. That is the double hat-trick. But what is the double hat-trick in cricket?
Here is a short account of the double hat-trick that is used in cricket.
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Before delving into the long and short of it, let us first clear what a hat-trick is.
What is a Hat-Trick in cricket?
A hat-trick is not a very complicated word in cricket. The bowler takes the wickets of three batsmen on three consecutive balls and that’s it, the hat-trick is done.
The situation with a hat-trick is still more complex, as it can be across two overs of a limited over match or even two innings of a Test match. The only condition is that the bowler has to dismiss the batters on consecutive deliveries in the same match.
So, what can be the ways to get rid of the batsmen and achieve a bowler’s hat-trick?
The first point is that the dismissals should be in a legal manner. Secondly, the bowler must be playing a role in all three dismissals.
A bowler can be counted in a hat-trick if he/she gets rid of the batsmen in any of the following ways:
1. Bowled out
2. Caught out
3. Trapped leg before wicket (LBW)
4. Stumped out
These are the primary points regarding a hat-trick that you should be aware of. Now, let us go to the next level, the double hat-trick.
What is a Double Hat-Trick in Cricket?
A double hat-trick is an even greater achievement than the hat-trick. You may be under the impression that it consists of six wickets in six balls. However, that is not the case.
A double hat-trick is the situation when a bowler gets four wickets in four consecutive balls. Since a bowler takes one more wicket immediately after completing the hat-trick, it becomes a double hat-trick.
So, have any bowlers taken double hat-tricks in cricket?
Yes, there have been a few bowlers who took double hat-tricks in international cricket. Some of the notable players who achieved this feat include Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, and Jason Holder.
Malinga, in fact, took two double hat-tricks, one in ODIs and the other in T20Is. It is a testimony to his excellent performance during that period.
