If you have ever been a spectator to a hat-trick in the international cricket then the excitement of watching three batsmen making a beeline to pavilion on three consecutive deliveries, surely have made you restless on your seat. If you support the team that is fielding, you are bound to feel that irresistible desire to cheer the bowler at the top of your voice. If you are a supporter of the team that is batting, the hat-trick may turn you into a dejected dumb and send a chill down your spine. Though, the world cricket is replete with several examples of memorable hat-tricks, the following is a list of the most exciting hat-tricks in the international cricket.
Irfan Pathan (India) Vs Pakistan
Year: 2006
The hat-trick by Irfan Pathan against Pakistan in the first over of 2006 Karachi test, is one of the most exciting hat-tricks in the cricketing world. To claim this hat-trick, Irfan Pathan took wickets of Salman Butt, Younus Khan and Mohammad Yusuf in the first over of the match.
This hat-trick holds a special place because it created so many problems for Pakistan at home, in the very first over of a test match. Getting back in a test match after the great loss of three batsmen consecutively, proves to be a herculean task even for the teams with the acclaimed batting lineup.
Chetan Sharma (India) Vs New Zealand
Year: 1987
Chetan Sharma made a history when he took wickets of Ian Smith, Ken Rutherford and Ewen Chatfield of New Zealand on three consecutive deliveries in World Cup, 1987. This was the first hat-trick in a world cup match that had paved the way for India’s memorable nine wicket win over New Zealand.
Harbhajan Singh (India) Vs Australia
Year: 2001
Harbhajan Singh put a break on the test winning streak of the formidable Australian team when he trapped Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne to claim a hat-trick in 2001 Kolkata test. This hat-trick by Harbhajan, brought India back in an almost lost game and India registered a win over Australia even after being forced to play a follow-on.
Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) Vs South Africa
Year: 2007
Hat-trick by Lasith Malinga against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, is one of the most sensational hat-tricks. While making this hat-trick, Lasith Malinga accomplished a new feat by taking four wickets on four consecutive deliveries in the world cricket for the first time. He sent Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Nitini back to pavilion on consecutive deliveries. This turned out to be one the most exciting hat-tricks because it happened when South Africa needed only four more runs to win with five wickets intact.
Brett Lee (Australia) Vs Kenya
Year: 2003
Brett Lee achieved a milestone in his cricketing career when he sent Kennedy Otieno, Brijal Patel and David Obuya back to pavilion on three consecutive deliveries and claimed a hat-trick against Kenya in 2003 World Cup. The first ever hat-trick for Brett Lee, lead the team to an emphatic 5-wicket win over Kenya in a crucial world cup match.
Kemar Roach (West Indies) Vs the Netherlands
Year: 2007
The hat-trick by Kemar Roach against Netherlands in the 2007 World Cup, is distinctly one of the most outstanding hat-tricks in the world cricket. This hat-trick marked West Indies victory over Netherlands by 215 runs.The hat-trick by Kemar Roach was the only sliver lining for the otherwise dismal performance of West Indies in the 2007 World Cup.
Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) Vs Australia
Year: 2011
Lasith Malinga put Australia on the back foot by claiming a hat-trick in Colombo in 2011. Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Xavier Doherty were victims of Lasith Malinga for this hat-trick. With this, Malinga took his tally of hat-tricks in the international cricket to three. Now, Malinga is the only bowler who has claimed three career hat-tricks in the international cricket.
Chaminda Vass (Sri Lanka) Vs Bangladesh
Year: 2003
The hat-trick by Chaminda Vaas against Bangladesh in the 2003 Cricket World Cup has been itched in the memory of cricket lovers. To achieve this feat, Vass took wickets of Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque in the first three balls of the match. With this hat-trick, Vaas became the first bowler in the world cricket to claim a hat-trick in the initial three balls of a match.