All-rounders who have taken a hat-trick and scored a 50 in the same Test match

Each and every side in the world wants to have an all-rounder in the side who can change the course of a game with both the bat and the ball.

Over the years, Test cricket has seen outstanding performances from plenty of all-rounders and many of them have gone on to become legends of the game.

That being said, there are certain performances that are so rare that they have happened only a handful of times in the long and eventful history of Test cricket.

Now, hat-tricks are rare in any form of the game but if a player ends up getting a half-century on top of that, then it becomes a performance for the ages.

Such an all-round effort is something that will go down in the record books as some of the most exceptional efforts in cricket history and it is not a surprise that it has happened only four times in Test cricket history. Here is a look at each of them.

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#4 William Bates against Australia at Melbourne, 1883

William Bates off-spin was tough for the Australian line-up to handle

The Yorkshireman was responsible for flattening Australia in first Test of the Ashes back in 1883 and he did so with an all-round performance that was not repeated in 112 years.

Although William Bates had opened the batting for Yorkshire, he batted at No. 9 and made a crucial 55 as England made 294 in the first innings.

When Australia batted, Bates’ right arm off-spin proved too hot to handle and he ripped the heart out of the opposition middle-order by picking up a hat-trick.

He removed No. 4, Percy McDonnell, No. 5 George Giffen and No. 6 George Bonnor with the score at 78.

Bates ended up with figures of 7 for 28 in 26.2 overs as Australia were all out for 114. England enforced the follow-on and Bates picked 7 for 74 in the 2nd innings to bundle the hosts out for 153.

England won the game by an innings and 27 runs, but the headline was one of the greatest all-round performances in Test history by William Bates.

#3 Dominic Cork against West Indies at Old Trafford, 1995

Dominic Cork made 56 off 91 balls

The former English all-rounder was once regarded as one of the world’s leading best and Dominic Cork what he could do in his first ever Test series when he blew the West Indies away at Old Trafford back in 1995.

Cork wasn’t particularly quick but he had the ability to swing the ball either way and that is what led to his brilliant show in West Indies’ second innings. West Indies made 216 in the first innings and England replied with 437.

Batting at No. 9, Cork made 56 off 91 balls and added vital runs to stretch the lead. When West Indies batted in their second innings, they seemed to be going well at 161 for 3 but then the Englishman struck by castling captain Richie Richardson.

He followed that up by trapping Junior Murray and Carl Hooper leg before to complete his hat-trick. The game was pretty much over after that and England ended up winning by six wickets.

#2 Stuart Broad against India at Trent Bridge, 2011

Stuart Broad wrecked India with figures of 6/46

India’s tour of England in 2011 was a forgettable one but in the second Test at Trent Bridge, they had the hosts on the mat in the first innings.

England had been reduced to 124 for 8 but India could not complete the job due to a stubborn innings from No. 9 Stuart Broad, who made 64 and helped them get to 221.

When India batted, it was Broad who wrecked India with figures of 6/46 in 24.1 overs and that included a hat-trick that stopped the visitors from taking a significant lead.

India were at 273 for 5 when the fast bowler sent back MS Dhoni to the pavilion and then off the next delivery he trapped Harbhajan Singh lbw, before cleaning up Praveen Kumar to complete his hat-trick.

Broad did not allow the tail to wag and ensure that India could only make 288. England made 544 in the second innings and Broad contributed against with 44, before being run out.

The target of 478 proved to be too much for India and their innings folded for 158, as England won the game by 319 runs.

#1 Sohag Gazi against New Zealand at Chittagong, 2013

Sohag Gazi turned his fifty into a hundred

The Bangladesh all-rounder may have played only 10 Test matches in his career but his performance in the game against New Zealand back in 2013 will forever make him an immortal of the game.

Sohag Gazi is the only player on this list, who turned his fifty into a hundred and also claimed a hat-trick. However, unlike the other players on this list, his efforts did not result in a win for his side.

In the first innings, he only picked up two wickets as New Zealand piled up 469 and when Bangladesh batted, Gazi made an unbeaten 101 at No. 8 to help his team make 501.

In New Zealand’s second innings, Gazi came into his own as a bowler and picked up six wickets for 77 runs in 26 overs.

With New Zealand at 260 for 4, he trapped Corey Anderson leg before and the had BJ Watling caught behind.

Next up, he had Doug Bracewell caught to complete his hat-trick. The match eventually ended in a tame draw but Gazi’s performance remains one of cricket’s greatest all-round shows.

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Which all-round performance was the best in your opinion? Sound off in the comments section below!