Five famous hat-tricks in international cricket

2. Harbhajan Singh (India v/s Australia, Eden Gardens, March 2001)

In many ways, this performance and the follow-on heroics set many benchmarks for the statistically inclined. But for one man, it was more than just that.

Harbhajan Singh, who had been picked in the side at the insistence of skipper Sourav Ganguly, had had a turbulent year. He was thrown out of the NCA in 2000 for indiscipline, and lost his father the same year. At an all-time low, the young off-spinner contemplated quitting cricket and moving to the US for a fresh start in order to support his family.

However, after Anil Kumble was injured prior to the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ganguly publicly called for Harbhajan’s inclusion in the national squad. And, at Eden Gardens, the young bowler responded magnificently to the captain’s call.

Matthew Hayden hit the off-spinner out of the attack initially, using his feet cleverly against the turn. But Bhajji fought back hard, dismissing the Aussie opener before returning for another magical spell that reduced the visitors to more misery.

Ricky Ponting, who would later have many more confrontations with the Turbanator, was deceived by a straight ball and was caught right in front of the wicket. Next ball, the dangerous Gilchrist was struck on the pad by a delivery that kept low – the only dismissal that caused a certain amount of confusion – before Shane Warne clipped the third delivery to short leg where Sadagoppan Ramesh snapped up a clean catch; an agonizing wait later, he was given out, sparking major celebrations in the crowd.

In the process, Harbhajan became the first Indian to take a Test hat-trick, and took 13 wickets in that famous Test which India won after following-on, halting Australia’s winning streak and eventually taking the series 2-1. But more importantly, it resurrected the Punjab spinner’s international career, and he went on to achieve much more glory.