Atkinson’s Historic Hat-Trick vs New Zealand
New Zealand were struggling on 125-7 with Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith on the crease when Atkinson wrapped up their innings with a historic hat-trick.
Atkinson claimed the wickets of Smith, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee with three consecutive deliveries, marking the 15th instance of a bowler from England recording a hat-trick in Test cricket.
He uprooted Smith’s middle stump with a brilliant delivery, while Henry tried to evade a sharply rising short ball, but only managed to glove it into the hands of Ben Duckett.
Sarfaraz Ahmed hints at retirement ahead of Champions T20 Cup
Atkinson then bowled a full and straight delivery that crashed into Southee’s front pad, dead in front of the middle stump. Southee opted for the review, but to no avail, as umpire Rod Tucker raised his finger decisively for a second time, confirming the dismissal.
It’s worth noting that Atkinson’s hat-trick was the 50th Test hat-trick in global cricket—47 in men’s matches and three in women’s.
The last English player to accomplish this feat was Moeen Ali who claimed a hat-trick against South Africa at The Oval in 2017.
Notably, Gus Atkinson is the 14th English player to join the exclusive club of hat-trick takers, joining the ranks of illustrious names such as Stuart Broad, who claimed two in his storied career.
Test hat-tricks by England bowlers
Billy Bates vs Australia, Melbourne (1882/83)
Johnny Briggs vs Australia, Sydney (1891/92)
George Lohmann vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth (1895/96)
Jack Hearne vs Australia, Leeds (1899)
Maurice Allom vs New Zealand, Christchurch (1929/30)
Tom Goddard vs South Africa, Johannesburg (1938/39)
Peter Loader vs West Indies, Leeds (1957)
Dominic Cork vs West Indies, Manchester (1995)
Darren Gough vs Australia, Sydney (1998/99)
Matthew Hoggard vs West Indies, Barbados (2003/04)
Ryan Sidebottom vs New Zealand, Hamilton (2007/08)
Stuart Broad vs India, Nottingham (2011)
Stuart Broad vs Sri Lanka, Leeds (2014)
Moeen Ali vs South Africa, The Oval (2017)
Gus Atkinson vs New Zealand, Wellington (2024)
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.
