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The Tale Of The Most Complicated Hat-Trick In Test Cricket Achieved by AUS's Merv Hughes

Hughes in action [X] Hughes in action [X]

Generally when the names of ustralian fast bowlers pop up, people remember the likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath. However, even before them, there was a menacing, tearaway pacer, who tormented the batters in the 80s - Merv Hughes.

The man with the best looking moustache during that period, Hughes was a terrifying figure for the batters, and he formed a great bowling partnership alongside Craig McDermott.

How Hughes took a hat-trick, but in three different overs

Despite picking 212 Test wickets in 53 matches, Hughes' biggest achievement came during the 1988 West Indies tour of Australia. During the second Test match at Perth, Hughes bagged a hat-trick against a formidable Windies batting lineup, but surprisingly, the hat-trick took deliveries took place in three different overs.

Yes, you read it correctly. We tend to believe that hat-trick in cricket can only be achieved in one single over, however, during those days, the rules stated that even if you take three consecutive wickets in different overs, the hat-trick will stay in your account.

In the last ball of West Indies' 36th over in the first innings, Hughes dismissed Curtly Ambrose, and followed it up with the scalp of Patrick Patterson with the first ball of his 37th over as the visitors were bundled out for 449.

He returned back in the second innings and knocked over top-order batter, Gordon Greenidge on the very first ball of the innings to complete the most complicated hat-tricks in cricket history.

His efforts went in vain as Australia were defeated, rather easily. Hughes took 13 wickets in the Test, but West Indies won by 169 runs.