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Gus Atkinson Joins Jasprit Bumrah In Elite Club With Historic Test Hat-Trick In Wellington

Rajgeeta Yadav

Gus Atkinson shines in second Test [Source:@englandcricket/X.com]Gus Atkinson shines in second Test [Source:@englandcricket/X.com]

Gus Atkinson made sure to register his name in cricketing history during the second Test between England and New Zealand at Wellington. On the second morning, the England bowler achieved a rare and remarkable feat by becoming the 15th English cricketer to take a Test hat-trick. His efforts helped England tighten their grip on the match with a commanding bowling performance.

New Zealand had started the day in trouble at 86-5, still trailing England's first-innings total by 194 runs. England wasted no time in piling on the pressure, with Brydon Carse taking two quick wickets early in the morning, dismissing Tom Blundell and Will O'Rourke. Despite a brief resistance from Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith, the hosts’ innings came to a swift end as Atkinson delivered a spectacular hat-trick to bowl them out for 125.

Atkinson's hat-trick began with Nathan Smith, who misjudged a delivery that bounced unexpectedly, deflecting off his gloves onto the stumps. Next came Matt Henry, who was undone by a sharp bouncer that he fended off to Ben Duckett at gully. 

Atkinson Seals Hat-Trick by Trapping Tim Southee

The hat-trick was completed when Tim Southee, deceived by a clever field setting, was trapped lbw after playing back to a full delivery. With these three quick strikes, Atkinson ensured England held a 155-run first-innings lead.

This was the 15th hat-trick by an England bowler in men’s Test cricket and the first since Moeen Ali achieved the feat against South Africa in 2017. Overall, it marked the 50th Test hat-trick in the history of the game, with 47 in men’s Tests and three in women’s Tests. It is worth noting that Atkinson joined this exclusive club, which includes big names like Stuart Broad, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shane Warne.

Atkinson also made history as the first bowler to achieve a Test hat-trick at Wellington’s iconic Basin Reserve.