by Cricket is full of amazing moments that make fans jump from their seats. One of the rarest and most exciting things that can happen is a double hat-trick.
But how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick? Many cricket fans ask this question because it’s not something you see every day.
A double hat-trick is when a bowler takes four wickets in four straight balls.
This makes it twice as hard as a regular hat-trick, which needs only three wickets in three balls.
Only six bowlers in the whole world have ever done this in international cricket.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick?
Let’s learn everything about this rare cricket achievement.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick? – A Quick Answer
The answer is simple and clear: a double hat-trick needs exactly four wickets in four consecutive deliveries.
Here’s how it works:
- A regular hat-trick = 3 wickets in 3 balls
- A double hat-trick = 4 wickets in 4 balls
- All four wickets must happen one after another, with no gap
This means the bowler must get four batsmen out in four straight balls without any other player facing a delivery in between. It’s incredibly difficult and extremely rare in cricket.
What is a Double Hat-Trick?
A double hat-trick happens when a cricket bowler dismisses four batters in four consecutive deliveries. Think of it as a regular hat-trick with one extra wicket added to it.
To understand this better, let’s break it down:
Regular Hat-Trick:
- First ball: Gets one batsman out
- Second ball: Gets another batsman out
- Third ball: Gets the third batsman out
- Result: Hat-trick achieved!
Double Hat-Trick:
- First ball: Gets one batsman out
- Second ball: Gets another batsman out
- Third ball: Gets the third batsman out
- Fourth ball: Gets the fourth batsman out
- Result: Double hat-trick achieved!
The bowler must maintain their focus and skill for that one extra delivery. This makes it much harder than a regular hat-trick. The pressure builds up with each wicket, and by the fourth ball, everyone in the stadium knows what’s happening.
Key Requirements for a Double Hat-Trick:
- All four dismissals must be consecutive
- No other batsman can face a ball between these four wickets
- It can happen across different overs
- The bowler must take all four wickets personally
The Elite Club of Double Hat-Trick Achievers
Only six bowlers in cricket history have achieved this rare feat in international matches. Let’s meet these cricket legends:
| Bowler | Country | Year | Against | Match Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2007, 2019 | South Africa, New Zealand | ODI, 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 known as the “Yorker King” and holds a special place in cricket history. He was the first bowler ever to achieve a double hat-trick in international cricket.
His Amazing Records:
- First double hat-trick: Against South Africa in the 2007 ODI World Cup
- Second double hat-trick: Against New Zealand in a 2019 T20I match
- Unique achievement: Only bowler to do it twice in international cricket
2007 Performance Details:
- Victims: Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini
- Impact: Nearly won the match for Sri Lanka from an impossible position
- Bowling style: His famous yorkers at high speed
2019 Performance:
- Match: T20I against New Zealand
- Achievement: Became the first to achieve a double hat-trick twice
Malinga’s bowling action was unique – he bowled with a round-arm action that made his deliveries very hard to face. His yorkers were so good that batsmen often couldn’t even touch the ball.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Rashid Khan made history by becoming the first bowler to achieve a double hat-trick in T20I cricket.
His Historic Achievement:
- Match: Afghanistan vs Ireland (2019)
- Victims: Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, and Simi Singh
- Final figures: 5 wickets for 27 runs
- Bowling style: Right-arm leg-spin
What Made It Special:
- First T20I double hat-trick ever
- His spin bowling confused the Irish batsmen completely
- Helped Afghanistan win the match easily
- Showed that spinners can also achieve this rare feat
Rashid’s double hat-trick proved that spin bowlers can be just as deadly as fast bowlers when it comes to taking consecutive wickets.
Curtis Campher (Ireland)
Curtis Campher achieved his double hat-trick on cricket’s biggest stage – the T20 World Cup.
World Cup Glory:
- Event: 2021 T20 World Cup
- Opposition: Netherlands
- Victims: Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards, and Roelof van der Merwe
- Significance: First double hat-trick in a T20 World Cup
Impact on the Match:
- Completely changed the game’s direction
- Netherlands was batting well before his spell
- Ireland won the match convincingly
- Campher became an instant hero
His achievement showed that medium-pace bowlers can also create magic with the right line and length.
Jason Holder (West Indies)
Jason Holder’s double hat-trick was perfectly timed – it came in the final over to win the match for West Indies.
Match-Winning Performance:
- Match: West Indies vs England (2022)
- Victims: Chris Jordan, Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, and Saqib Mahmood
- Timing: Final over of the match
- Result: West Indies won the match
Why It Was Special:
- Happened under maximum pressure
- England needed just a few runs to win
- Holder bowled the final over
- Clutch performance under pressure
As the West Indies captain, Holder showed incredible leadership by taking responsibility in the most crucial moment.
Waseem Yaqoob (Lesotho)
Waseem Yaqoob created history for the small African nation of Lesotho.
Dominant Performance:
- Match: 2024 ICC World Cup Sub-regional Africa Qualifier Group A
- Opposition: Mali
- Victims: Amara Nimaga, Dramane Berthe, Mahamadou Malle, and Yacouba Konate
- Final figures: 6 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs
Match Impact:
- Target: Lesotho scored 148 runs
- Result: Mali was bowled out for just 36 runs
- Victory margin: 112 runs
- Yaqoob’s role: His bowling destroyed Mali’s batting
This performance showed that players from smaller cricket nations can also achieve greatness on the international stage.
Hernan Fennell (Argentina)
Hernan Fennell is the most recent member of this exclusive club.
Latest Achievement:
- Match: 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifier
- Opposition: Cayman Islands
- Year: 2024
- Significance: Brought Argentina into the cricket spotlight
His achievement proves that cricket is truly becoming a global sport with talent emerging from unexpected places.
The Significance and Rarity
The double hat-trick is one of cricket’s rarest achievements for several important reasons:
Why It’s So Difficult:
- Skill requirement: The Bowler must be extremely accurate
- Mental pressure: Pressure increases with each wicket
- Perfect timing: Everything must align perfectly
- Luck factor: Sometimes you need a bit of luck, too
- Match conditions: Conditions must favor the bowler
What Makes It Special:
- Rarity: Only 6 bowlers have done it in international cricket
- Impact: Usually changes the entire match
- Pressure moments: It often happens in crucial situations
- Team morale: Boosts the bowling team’s confidence massively
Game-Changing Moments:
Most double hat-tricks have happened during crucial moments of matches:
- Malinga vs South Africa: Nearly won from an impossible position
- Holder vs England: Won the match in the final over
- Yaqoob vs Mali: Helped defend a small total
- Campher vs Netherlands: Changed World Cup match completely
Statistical Rarity:
To understand how rare this is, consider these facts:
- Thousands of international cricket matches are played
- Only 6 double hat-tricks in cricket history
- Regular hat-tricks are also very rare
- Double hat-tricks are exponentially rarer
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 rarer than a regular hat-trick?
A: Yes, it’s much rarer. Only 6 bowlers have achieved it in international cricket compared to many more regular hat-tricks.
- Q: Can a double hat-trick happen across different overs?
A: Yes, as long as the 4 wickets are consecutive deliveries, they can span across overs.
- Q: Who was the first bowler to take a double hat-trick?
A: Lasith Malinga from Sri Lanka was the first in 2007 against South Africa.
- Q: Which bowler has taken the most double hat-tricks?
A: Lasith Malinga is the only bowler to achieve it twice in international cricket.
- Q: Can spin bowlers take double hat-tricks?
A: Yes, Rashid Khan proved that spinners can also achieve this feat.
- Q: Has any double hat-trick happened in a World Cup?
A: Yes, Curtis Campher achieved it in the 2021 T20 World Cup against the Netherlands.
- Q: What’s harder – a century or a double hat-trick?
A: A double hat-trick is much rarer – only 6 in history compared to thousands of centuries.
- Q: Do all 4 wickets have to be bowled dismissals?
A: No, they can be any type of dismissal (bowled, caught, LBW, etc.) as long as the bowler gets credit.
- Q: Can a double hat-trick happen in T20 cricket?
A: Yes, Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, and Hernan Fennell have all done it in T20 formats.
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Conclusion: Lasith Malinga is The First Bowler To Take a Double Hat Trick
A double hat-trick is truly one of cricket’s most amazing achievements.
It requires exactly 4 wickets in 4 consecutive deliveries, making it incredibly rare and difficult to achieve.
With only 6 bowlers ever accomplishing this feat in international cricket, it stands as a testament to exceptional skill and perfect timing.
Lasith Malinga deserves special recognition as the first bowler to achieve this milestone and the only one to do it twice.
His 2007 performance against South Africa opened the door for this rare achievement in international cricket.
Each double hat-trick tells a unique story – from Malinga’s pace and yorkers to Rashid’s spin magic, from Holder’s pressure performance to Campher’s World Cup heroics.
These moments remind us why cricket is called the gentleman’s game, with unexpected twists and turns.
The rarity of double hat-tricks makes them more precious than gold in cricket.
When a bowler is on a hat-trick, the entire stadium holds its breath. But when they’re on the verge of a double hat-trick, the excitement reaches a completely different level.
As cricket continues to grow globally, we might see more bowlers join this exclusive club.
But no matter how many achieve it in the future, these six pioneers will always be remembered as the legends who showed it was possible.
The double hat-trick remains cricket’s ultimate bowling achievement – rare, beautiful, and unforgettable.
