The Most Hat Tricks in International Cricket: Records and Key Bowlers

Cricket history is rich with remarkable achievements, and one of the most notable is the feat of taking multiple hat-tricks (three wickets in three consecutive deliveries) in top international matches. As of August 2023, the records are held by a select group of players, making significant contributions to the game's legacy.

One Day Internationals (ODIs)

In ODI cricket, bowlers who have taken more than one hat-trick are a rare breed. Currently, eight players fit this criteria, with Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka holding the most with five hat-tricks. These hat-tricks were achieved in ODIs, T20s, and Tests. Let’s delve deeper into the achievements that solidify their status in cricket history.

Records in ODI

Bowling hat-tricks in ODIs has been a challenging feat, with only five players achieving this more than once:

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Three hat-tricks in ODIs, against South Africa (28 March 2007, 01 March 2011, 22 August 2011). Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Three hat-tricks, against West Indies (14 October 1989, 04 May 1990), and against Australia (both test matches of the same series in 1999). Sakina Mushtaq (Pakistan): Two hat-tricks, against Zimbabwe (03 November 1996, 11 June 1999). Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka): Two hat-tricks, against Zimbabwe (08 December 2001, Bangladesh on 14 February 2003). Trent Boult (New Zealand): Two hat-tricks, against Pakistan (07 November 2018, Australia on 29 June 2019).

Test Internationals

In Test cricket, taking multiple hat-tricks is a rarer occurrence, but it has been achieved by four players so far:

Records in Test Cricket

The players known for their multiple hat-tricks in Test cricket include:

Hug Trumble (Australia): Against England on 04 January 1902 and 08 March 1904. Jimmy Matthews (Australia): Against South Africa on 28 May 1912. He also holds the unique record of taking a hat-trick in both innings of the same Test. Wasim Akram (Pakistan): Two hat-tricks against Sri Lanka in the same series on 06 March 1999 and 14 March 1999. Stuart Broad (England): One hat-trick each against India in July 2011 and against Sri Lanka in June 2014.

T20 Internationals

The youngest format of cricket, T20, has its own top performers in terms of hat-tricks. Here are the players who have taken multiple hat-tricks in T20 internationals:

Records in T20 Internationals

The notable bowlers include:

Brett Lee (Australia): One hat-trick against Bangladesh on 16 September 2007. Jacob Oram (New Zealand): One hat-trick against Sri Lanka on 02 September 2009. Tim Southee (New Zealand): One hat-trick against Pakistan on 26 December 2010. Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka): One hat-trick against India on 12 February 2016. Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan): One hat-trick against Sri Lanka on 27 October 2017. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): One hat-trick against Ireland on 24 February 2019. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Two hat-tricks, against Bangladesh on 06 April 2017 and against New Zealand on 06 September 2019.

Lasith Malinga, a bowler from Sri Lanka, holds the unique record for the highest number of hat-tricks (five in total) in international cricket, including three in ODIs, one in T20, and one in Tests. His second T20 hat-trick was a milestone, becoming the first bowler in this format to accomplish this feat.

The journey of each player and their hat-tricks illuminates the individual talent and team effort required to achieve such a rare and memorable milestone in international cricket. Their achievements continue to inspire young and aspiring cricketers around the world.