Atkinson Secures ‘Special’ Test Hat-Trick Amidst Remarkable Year

Gus Atkinson secured the 15th Test hat-trick by an England men’s bowler, becoming the 14th individual to achieve this feat for England. This occurred as he dismantled New Zealand’s lower order on the second day of the second Test in Wellington. The pace bowler Atkinson dismissed Nathan Smith, who was attempting to leave the ball, then forced Matt Henry to fend a catch to gully, and finally trapped the last batsman, Tim Southee, leg before wicket (lbw). This achievement further highlighted an exceptional inaugural year in Test cricket for the 26-year-old, who had previously claimed 12 wickets during his debut match against West Indies at Lord’s in July. Subsequently, in August, he recorded a century and a five-wicket haul at the same location against Sri Lanka. Atkinson’s rapid succession of wickets concluded the New Zealand innings at 125 runs, leaving them 155 runs adrift of England’s total of 280. This marked the first Test hat-trick by an England bowler since Moeen Ali’s against South Africa at The Oval in 2017, and the first in an away Test match since Ryan Sidebottom achieved one against New Zealand in Hamilton 16 years prior. In total, Atkinson is the 14th Englishman to secure a Test hat-trick; Stuart Broad has accomplished this twice. “The hat-trick ball I was running up thinking ‘I’m getting a wicket this ball, I’m getting a wicket this ball’ – I did feel it,” Atkinson stated to BBC Sport. He added, “I haven’t really thought about a hat-trick too much before. You want to play to get five-fors as a bowler, you don’t think about hat-tricks as much, but getting a hat-trick is special, it’s definitely more rare than a five-for.” He further remarked, “I took one for school, probably 2015. It was a good hat-trick, but I think this one tops it.” Across all Test cricket, Atkinson’s hat-trick is the first since South Africa’s spinner Keshav Maharaj achieved one against West Indies in 2021. Furthermore, Atkinson’s feat of three wickets in three consecutive balls represents the first hat-trick ever recorded at the historic Basin Reserve. New Zealand had recommenced their innings at 86 for 5 wickets, trailing by 194 runs. Brydon Carse required only 10 deliveries in his spell to dislodge Tom Blundell’s off stump, and in the same over, nightwatchman Will O’Rourke was dismissed leg before wicket. Smith and Glenn Phillips then attempted a counter-attack, contributing 29 runs from 27 balls, prior to Atkinson’s decisive spell. Smith had intended to leave the delivery, but unexpected extra bounce caused the ball to deflect off his bat and onto his middle stump. Number 10 batsman Henry was unable to defend against a fiercely rising delivery, and Southee, despite the field being positioned for a short ball, was struck in front of the stumps by a delivery Atkinson pitched full and straight. Atkinson now joins Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, and 19th-century spinner Johnny Briggs as the only England players to have achieved both a Test century and a hat-trick. Internationally, Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Harbhajan Singh, James Franklin, Irfan Pathan, and Sohan Gazi have also accomplished this rare double. “It’s been a very special year,” Atkinson further commented. He elaborated, “Obviously the hundred [at Lord’s against Sri Lanka] was special. I’d probably rank that up there at the top, not something I really expected at the start of the year, but it’s all been very special.” Atkinson concluded, “I’m just looking forward to playing as much Test cricket as I can in the next few years and hopefully continuing with the form.”