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 when a bowler takes multiple wickets in a row.
While many people know about hat-tricks, there’s something even more special called a double hat-trick.
If you’ve ever wondered how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick?, you’re in for a treat.
This amazing achievement is so rare that only six bowlers in the entire history of international cricket have managed to do it.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick?
Let’s explore this incredible feat and learn about the legends who made it happen.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick? – A Quick Answer
A double hat-trick requires exactly four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. This means the bowler must dismiss four batters one after another without any break between the dismissals.
It’s like taking a regular hat-trick (three wickets in three balls) and adding one more wicket to make it even more special.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Regular hat-trick: 3 wickets in 3 consecutive balls
- Double hat-trick: 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls
What is a Double Hat-Trick?
Let’s break down what makes a double hat-trick so special. In cricket, when a bowler takes three wickets with three balls in a row, it’s called a hat-trick.
But when they manage to get four wickets with four balls in a row, that’s a double hat-trick.
Think of it this way – imagine you’re bowling and you get a batter out with your first ball. Then you get another batter out with your very next ball.
Then another one with the third ball. Now, most bowlers would be happy with this hat-trick.
But if you can get a fourth batter out with your fourth ball, you’ve just achieved something extremely rare and special.
Key Features of a Double Hat-Trick:
- Consecutive deliveries: All four wickets must happen one after another
- No gap allowed: There can’t be any other balls between the wickets
- Any format: It can happen in Test matches, ODIs, or T20s
- Same over or across overs: The wickets can be in the same over or spread across two overs
The difficulty level increases dramatically because:
- The bowler faces more pressure with each wicket
- Batters become more careful after seeing wickets fall
- Field settings might change
- The bowler must maintain perfect accuracy and skill for four straight balls
The Elite Club of Double Hat-Trick Achievers
Only six bowlers in cricket history have achieved this incredible feat. Let’s meet these legends and learn about their amazing performances.
| Bowler | Country | Year | Opponent | Format | Match Situation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2007 | South Africa | ODI | World Cup |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2019 | New Zealand | T20I | Regular Match |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 2019 | Ireland | T20I | First in T20I |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | 2021 | Netherlands | T20 | World Cup |
| Jason Holder | West Indies | 2022 | England | T20I | Match Winner |
| Waseem Yaqoob | Lesotho | 2024 | Mali | T20 | Qualifier |
| Hernan Fennell | Argentina | 2024 | Cayman Islands | T20 | Qualifier |
Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Lasith Malinga is the king of double hat-tricks. He’s the only bowler who has done it twice in international cricket. This makes him truly special in cricket history.
First Double Hat-Trick (2007 World Cup):
- Match: Sri Lanka vs South Africa
- Victims: Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini
- Impact: Nearly won the match for Sri Lanka from an impossible position
- Bowling style: His famous yorkers at the death
Second Double Hat-Trick (2019):
- Match: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand
- Format: T20I
- Achievement: Became the first to do it twice
- Legacy: Cemented his place as one of cricket’s greatest death bowlers
Malinga’s unique bowling action and ability to bowl accurate yorkers made him perfect for taking wickets in clusters. His double hat-tricks came at crucial moments when his team needed him the most.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
The Afghan spinner made history by becoming the first bowler to achieve a double hat-trick in T20I cricket. His achievement came against Ireland in 2019.
Match Details:
- Victims: Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Simi Singh
- Final figures: 5/27 in his 4 overs
- Bowling type: Leg-spin with variations
- Match result: Afghanistan won convincingly
Rashid’s double hat-trick showed that spinners can be just as deadly as fast bowlers when it comes to taking quick wickets. His ability to spin the ball both ways and vary his pace made him unpredictable.
Curtis Campher (Ireland)
Curtis Campher achieved his double hat-trick during the 2021 T20 World Cup, making it even more special as it happened on cricket’s biggest stage.
Key Facts:
- Opponent: Netherlands
- Victims: Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards, Roelof van der Merwe
- Tournament: T20 World Cup
- Bowling style: Medium pace with clever variations
Campher’s achievement was remarkable because he did it on the world stage, where pressure is at its highest. His ability to keep his nerve during such an important tournament showed his mental strength.
Jason Holder (West Indies)
Jason Holder’s double hat-trick came in a match-winning performance against England in 2022. What made it special was that it came in the final over of the match.
The Dramatic Finish:
- Victims: Chris Jordan, Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood
- Timing: Final over of the match
- Result: Won the match for West Indies
- Pressure: Highest possible as it decided the game
Holder showed that tall fast bowlers can be just as effective in taking quick wickets. His height and bounce made it difficult for batters to score runs or even survive.
Waseem Yaqoob (Lesotho)
Waseem Yaqoob created history in 2024 during a World Cup qualifier match. His performance was dominant.
Record-Breaking Performance:
- Match: Lesotho vs Mali
- Victims: Amara Nimaga, Dramane Berthe, Mahamadou Malle, Yacouba Konate
- Final figures: 6/18 in 4 overs
- Match result: Mali bowled out for just 36 runs
- Victory margin: 112 runs
Yaqoob’s double hat-trick helped his team achieve a massive victory. His ability to take wickets consistently throughout his spell made him unplayable on that day.
Hernan Fennell (Argentina)
The most recent addition to this exclusive club is Hernan Fennell from Argentina. He achieved his double hat-trick in 2024.
Latest Achievement:
- Opponent: Cayman Islands
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Americas Qualifier
- Significance: Helped Argentina in their qualifying campaign
- Year: 2024
Fennell’s achievement shows that cricket is truly global, and players from all countries can achieve greatness when they get their opportunity.
The Significance and Rarity
Taking a double hat-trick is incredibly difficult for many reasons. Let’s understand why this achievement is so rare and special.
Why Double Hat-Tricks Are So Rare:
- Mental pressure: Each wicket increases pressure on the bowler
- Batting awareness: Batters become more careful after seeing wickets fall
- Perfect execution: Bowler must bowl perfectly four times in a row
- Match situations: It often happens during crucial moments
- Luck factor: Sometimes you need a bit of luck, too
Factors That Make It Special:
Skill Requirements:
- Perfect line and length for four consecutive balls
- Ability to handle increasing pressure
- Smart use of field positions
- Reading the batters’ mindset
Match Impact:
- Usually happens during game-changing moments
- Can turn matches completely around
- Creates momentum for the bowling team
- Puts the opposition under massive pressure
Statistical Rarity:
| Cricket Milestone | Frequency | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Regular wicket | Common | Easy |
| Hat-trick (3 wickets) | Rare | Hard |
| Double hat-trick (4 wickets) | Extremely Rare | Very Hard |
| Five wickets in 5 balls | Never happened | Nearly Impossible |
The numbers speak for themselves. With millions of balls bowled in international cricket, only seven instances of double hat-tricks have been recorded. This makes it rarer than many other cricket records.
FAQs:
- What exactly is a double hat-trick in cricket?
A double hat-trick is when a bowler takes four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. It extends a regular hat-trick by one more wicket, making it much rarer and more difficult to achieve.
- How many bowlers have taken double hat-tricks?
Only six bowlers have achieved double hat-tricks in international cricket: Lasith Malinga (twice), Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, Jason Holder, Waseem Yaqoob, and Hernan Fennell.
- Can a double hat-trick happen across different overs?
Yes, a double hat-trick can happen across two overs. The important thing is that the four wickets must be in four consecutive deliveries, regardless of which over they come in.
- Who was the first bowler to take a double hat-trick?
Lasith Malinga was the first bowler to achieve a double hat-trick in international cricket. He did it against South Africa in the 2007 ODI World Cup.
- What’s harder – a hat-trick or a double hat-trick?
A double hat-trick is much harder than a regular hat-trick. While hat-tricks are rare, double hat-tricks are extremely rare. The additional pressure and skill required for the fourth consecutive wicket make it exponentially more difficult.
- Has anyone taken five wickets in five balls?
No, no bowler has ever taken five wickets in five consecutive balls in international cricket. This would be even rarer than a double hat-trick.
- Do all double hat-tricks happen in T20 cricket?
No, while most recent double hat-tricks have been in T20 cricket, Malinga’s first double hat-trick happened in an ODI match during the 2007 World Cup.
- What’s the best bowling figures achieved with a double hat-trick?
Waseem Yaqoob holds this record with figures of 6/18 in 4 overs. His double hat-trick was part of an incredible bowling performance that helped bowl out Mali for just 36 runs.
Also Check:
- Most Unsuccessful Team In IPL History
- TNPL Winners List From 2016 To 2025
- Fastest Bowlers in the World
Conclusion: Lasith Malinga is The First Bowler To Take a Double Hat Trick
A double hat-trick truly represents one of cricket’s most extraordinary achievements.
Requiring exactly four wickets in four consecutive deliveries, it pushes bowlers to their absolute limits and creates moments that cricket fans remember forever.
Lasith Malinga deserves special recognition as the pioneer of this achievement.
His 2007 double hat-trick against South Africa opened the door for others to follow. The fact that he managed to do it twice shows his exceptional skill and mental strength under pressure.
The other five bowlers – Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, Jason Holder, Waseem Yaqoob, and Hernan Fennell – have each added their special chapter to this exclusive story.
Each double hat-trick came at crucial moments and helped change the course of their respective matches.
What makes double hat-tricks even more special is their unpredictable nature. They can happen in any format, during any match, and by bowlers of any style.
Whether it’s Malinga’s yorkers, Rashid’s spin, or Holder’s pace and bounce, different bowling styles can achieve this rare feat.
As cricket continues to evolve and grow globally, we might see more double hat-tricks in the future. But for now, these six legends remain in cricket’s most exclusive club.
Their achievements remind us why cricket is called the most unpredictable and exciting sport in the world.
For any cricket fan, witnessing a double hat-trick is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It’s a moment when skill, pressure, and perfect execution come together to create pure magic on the cricket field.
