Stats: Most hat-tricks in cricket

Who is the bowler to have taken the most number of hat-tricks in cricket? We will take a look at the list for both ODI and Test cricket.

Here’s the ODI list:

Malinga – The only bowler to have 3 ODI hat-tricks

Player	Matches	Wickets	Hat-tricks
Lasith Malinga (SL)	167	256	3
Wasim Akram (PAK)	356	502	2
Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK)	169	288	2
Chaminda Vaas (SL)	322	400	2

?1. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

He is the only player to have picked up three hat-tricks in ODI cricket, also the only player to have picked up four wickets in four balls. That phenomenal feat was achieved in the World Cup game against South Africa in 2007 when he made the Proteas sweat towards the end. The next hat-trick was also in a World Cup tournament, this time at home in 2011 against Kenya. And, the final one was against the Aussies where he had Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Xavier Doherty as his victims.

?2. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

The sultan of swing comes in next with two hat-tricks. Both were taken at Sharjah, and all the six victims were bowled. His first hat-trick victims include Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose and his second include Merv Hughes, Carl Rackemann and Terry Aldermann.?

?3. Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)

The man who invented the doosra comes in at number 3, also with two hat-tricks. Both were against the Zimbabweans. The first occasion was in 1996 in Peshawar where he had Grant Flower, John Rennie and Andy Whittall’s wickets. The second one was during the 1999 World Cup in England where he had Henry Olonga and Adam Huckly stumped and then picked up Pommie Mbangwa.

?4. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)

Vaas too has picked up a couple of hat-tricks, and the most unique thing about one of his hat-tricks was that he picked up the three wickets of the first three balls of the match. He picked one more wicket in the fifth ball of that first over. This was achieved against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup. Prior to that, he had a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in 2001, a game in which he ended up with a 8 wicket-haul.

Now to the Test list:

Wasim Akram: Two hat-tricks each in ODIs and Tests

Player	Matches	Wickets	Hat-tricks
Jimmy Matthews (AUS)	8	16	2
Hugh Trumble (AUS)	32	141	2
Wasim Akram (PAK)	104	414	2

?1. Jimmy Matthews (Australia)

Just 8 eight Tests in that career, but his name will be etched in history forever as he became the only man to pick up a hat-trick in each innings of a Test. Australia won the Test comfortably, and on both occasions his final hat-trick victim was South Africa’s Tommy Ward.

?2. Hugh Trumble (Australia)

Trumble took a hat-trick in Melbourne against England during the 1901-02 Ashes series. Two years later, same ground, same opposition, the off spinner picked up a hat-trick again. While Australia won on the first occasion, they couldn’t prevent a defeat during the second one.

?3. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

Wasim Akram’s hat-tricks were also unique like the previous ones. He picked up a hat-trick in consecutive Tests against the same oppostion. It was the Asian Test Championship where Pakistan and Sri Lanka had to play back-to-back Tests after qualifying for the finals. The first Test was drawn, and the finals was won by Pakistan with Akram’s hat-trick victims being Avishka Gunawardene, Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardene.