Cricket is full of amazing moments that make fans jump out of their seats.
One of the most exciting things that can happen is when a bowler takes wickets one after another.
You might have heard about hat-tricks, but there’s something even more special called a double hat-trick.
If you’re wondering how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick, you’re in the right place.
This rare achievement has only happened a few times in cricket history, making it one of the most difficult things for any bowler to do.
Contents
- How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick?
- How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick? – A Quick Answer
- What is a Double Hat-Trick?
- The Elite Club of Double Hat-Trick Achievers
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
- Curtis Campher (Ireland)
- Jason Holder (West Indies)
- Waseem Yaqoob (Lesotho)
- Hernan Fennell (Argentina)
- The Significance and Rarity
- FAQs:
- Conclusion: Lasith Malinga is The First Bowler To Take a Double Hat Trick
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick?
Let’s explore this incredible cricket milestone together.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick? – A Quick Answer
A double hat-trick in cricket requires exactly four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. This means the bowler must get four batsmen out, one after another, without any other balls in between.
To understand this better, let’s compare it with a regular hat-trick:
| Type | Number of Wickets | Number of Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Hat-trick | 3 wickets | 3 consecutive balls |
| Double Hat-trick | 4 wickets | 4 consecutive balls |
What is a Double Hat-Trick?
A double hat-trick is like a regular hat-trick, but with one extra wicket. Here’s what makes it so special:
Basic Definition:
- A bowler dismisses four batsmen in four straight deliveries
- No other balls can come between these four wickets
- Each ball must result in a wicket
Why It’s Called “Double” Hat-Trick: The name comes from the fact that it extends beyond a normal hat-trick. While a hat-trick needs three wickets in three balls, a double hat-trick adds one more wicket to make it four in four balls.
How Difficult Is It? Think about it this way – if taking three wickets in a row is already super hard, taking four wickets in a row is almost impossible. The bowler needs:
- Perfect bowling skills
- A bit of luck
- The right match conditions
- Strong mental focus
- Good fielding support
This is why only six bowlers in the entire history of international cricket have achieved this feat.
The Elite Club of Double Hat-Trick Achievers
Only six bowlers have ever taken a double hat-trick in international cricket. Let’s meet these legends:
| Bowler | Country | Year | Opponent | Match Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2007 | South Africa | ODI World Cup |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2019 | New Zealand | T20I |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 2019 | Ireland | T20I |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | 2021 | Netherlands | T20 World Cup |
| Jason Holder | West Indies | 2022 | England | ODI |
| Waseem Yaqoob | Lesotho | 2024 | Mali | ICC Qualifier |
| Hernan Fennell | Argentina | 2024 | Cayman Islands | ICC Qualifier |
Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Lasith Malinga is the first bowler ever to achieve a double hat-trick in international cricket. This Sri Lankan fast bowler is famous for his unique bowling style and deadly yorkers.
His First Double Hat-Trick (2007):
- Match: Sri Lanka vs South Africa, ODI World Cup
- Victims: Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini
- Impact: Nearly won the match for Sri Lanka from an impossible situation
His Second Double Hat-Trick (2019):
- Match: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, T20I
- Achievement: Became the only bowler with two double hat-tricks
- Legacy: Proved it wasn’t just luck the first time
What Made Malinga Special:
- Known as the “Yorker King”
- Had a unique round-arm bowling action
- Could bowl fast yorkers consistently
- Master of death bowling (bowling at the end of innings)
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan became the first spinner to achieve a double hat-trick in T20I cricket. This Afghan leg-spinner showed that fast bowlers aren’t the only ones who can achieve this feat.
His Historic Achievement (2019):
- Match: Afghanistan vs Ireland, T20I
- Victims: Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, and Simi Singh
- Final Figures: 5 wickets for 27 runs
- Significance: Proved spinners can also achieve this rare feat
Why Rashid’s Achievement Was Special:
- First spinner to get a double hat-trick in T20Is
- Showed different types of bowlers can achieve this
- His leg-spin variations confused the batsmen
- Helped Afghanistan win the match convincingly
Curtis Campher (Ireland)
Curtis Campher achieved his double hat-trick during the biggest stage in cricket – the T20 World Cup.
His World Cup Moment (2021):
- Match: Ireland vs Netherlands, T20 World Cup
- Victims: Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards, and Roelof van der Merwe
- Stage: T20 World Cup – the biggest T20 tournament
- Impact: Helped Ireland gain momentum in the tournament
What Made This Special:
- Happened during the World Cup
- Showed Ireland’s growing cricket strength
- Proved that smaller cricket nations can produce world-class bowlers
Jason Holder (West Indies)
Jason Holder’s double hat-trick came in the most dramatic fashion possible – in the final over to win the match.
His Match-Winning Performance (2022):
- Match: West Indies vs England, ODI
- Victims: Chris Jordan, Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, and Saqib Mahmood
- Timing: Final over of the match
- Result: Won the match for the West Indies
Why This Was Incredible:
- Happened under maximum pressure
- Won the match in the final over
- Showed incredible mental strength
- Proved big players perform in big moments
Waseem Yaqoob (Lesotho)
Waseem Yaqoob proved that cricket talent exists everywhere, even in smaller cricket nations.
His Dominant Display (2024):
- Match: Lesotho vs Mali, ICC World Cup Sub-regional Africa Qualifier
- Victims: Amara Nimaga, Dramane Berthe, Mahamadou Malle, and Yacouba Konate
- Overall Figures: 6 wickets for just 18 runs in 4 overs
- Match Result: Lesotho won by 112 runs (Mali all out for 36)
What Made This Performance Special:
- Helped defend a total of 148 runs
- Showed that cricket is growing in Africa
- Proved individual brilliance can change matches completely
Hernan Fennell (Argentina)
Hernan Fennell is the most recent member of this exclusive club.
His Recent Achievement (2024):
- Match: Argentina vs Cayman Islands, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifier
- Significance: Latest addition to the double hat-trick club
- Impact: Showed cricket’s global growth
The Significance and Rarity
Why Double Hat-Tricks Are So Rare:
Taking four wickets in four balls is incredibly difficult because:
- Skill Requirements:
- Perfect bowling technique
- Ability to change pace and line
- Reading batsmen’s weaknesses
- Maintaining accuracy under pressure
- Mental Challenges:
- Staying calm after taking wickets
- Not getting over-excited
- Focusing on the next ball
- Handling pressure from the crowd and teammates
- External Factors:
- Good fielding support is needed
- Right match conditions
- Batsmen making mistakes
- A bit of luck
Impact on Matches:
Most double hat-tricks have changed the course of matches:
| Impact Type | Examples | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Match-winning | Jason Holder vs England | Won in final over |
| Momentum-shifting | Malinga vs South Africa | Nearly won from losing position |
| Dominating performance | Waseem Yaqoob vs Mali | Massive victory margin |
Statistical Rarity:
To understand how rare this is:
- Thousands of international cricket matches have been played
- Only 7 double hat-tricks have ever happened (Malinga did it twice)
- More common to see centuries or five-wicket hauls
- Rarer than hitting six sixes in an over
FAQs:
- Q: How many wickets constitute a double hat-trick?
A: A double hat-trick requires exactly 4 wickets in 4 consecutive deliveries.
- Q: Is a double hat-trick the same as taking 4 wickets in 4 balls?
A: Yes, that’s exactly what it means. The bowler must dismiss 4 batsmen in 4 straight balls with no other deliveries in between.
- Q: Who was the first bowler to take a double hat-trick?
A: Lasith Malinga from Sri Lanka was the first bowler to achieve this feat in 2007 against South Africa.
- Q: Can a double hat-trick happen across different overs?
A: Yes, it can happen across overs. The important thing is that the 4 wickets must come in 4 consecutive balls, even if they span two overs.
- Q: Has anyone taken more than 4 wickets in consecutive balls?
A: No, in international cricket, 4 consecutive wickets is the maximum achieved so far.
- Q: Which format of cricket has seen the most double hat-tricks?
A: T20 cricket has seen the most double hat-tricks, likely because of the aggressive batting style and pressure situations.
- Q: Can a wicket-keeper or fielder help in achieving a double hat-trick?
A: Yes, the wickets can come through catches, run-outs, or stumpings. The bowler gets credit as long as they bowled the ball.
- Q: Is there a term for 5 wickets in 5 balls?
A: There’s no official term for it since it has never happened in international cricket. It would likely be called a “super hat-trick” or similar.
- Q: Do double hat-tricks count in all cricket formats?
A: Yes, double hat-tricks are recognized in all formats – Test, ODI, and T20 cricket.
- Q: What’s the difference between a hat-trick and a double hat-trick?
A: A hat-trick is 3 wickets in 3 consecutive balls, while a double hat-trick is 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls.
Also Check:
- Virat Kohli Half Centuries
- Sawai Mansingh Stadium Jaipur IPL Records
- Fastest Stumping in Cricket History
- Under-19 World Cup Winners List From 1988 To 2025
Conclusion: Lasith Malinga is The First Bowler To Take a Double Hat Trick
A double hat-trick in cricket consists of exactly 4 wickets in 4 consecutive deliveries.
This incredible achievement is one of the rarest feats in cricket, accomplished by only six bowlers in international cricket history.
Lasith Malinga holds the special honor of being the first bowler ever to achieve this milestone, doing it twice in his career.
His first double hat-trick in the 2007 ODI World Cup against South Africa will always be remembered as a historic moment in cricket.
The rarity of double hat-tricks shows us how difficult cricket can be and how special these moments are when they happen.
Each of the six bowlers who achieved this feat – Malinga, Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, Jason Holder, Waseem Yaqoob, and Hernan Fennell – has earned their place in cricket history.
For cricket fans, watching a double hat-trick unfold is like witnessing magic. It reminds us why cricket is called a game of glorious uncertainties.
Whether you’re a new cricket fan or have been following the sport for years, understanding these rare achievements helps you appreciate the skill and dedication required to excel at the highest level.
Remember: 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls make a double hat-trick – one of cricket’s most precious gems.
