• Source:JND
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Gus Atkinson yet again proved himself a new mainstay player in England's fast bowling attack, showing himself capable of leading the charge into the future. In a great exhibition of skill and precision, Atkinson on Saturday scripted his name into the record books by registering a Test hat-trick.

In his maiden international hat-trick, fast bowler Gus Atkinson ransacked New Zealand's tail. The first man to fall prey to the England pacer was all-rounder Nathan Smith. He tried to withdraw his bat from the line of the ball, but could not do so in time, resulting in the ball getting dragged onto his wickets and handing Atkinson the all-important scalp before his historic hat-trick.

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Without any pause in momentum, Atkinson quickly delivered the next ball and removed Matt Henry. The New Zealand batter tried to put the-shot into some sort of defensive mode, yet ended up giving a catch in the gully position that was occupied by Ben Duckett.

Atkinson sealed his hat-trick in style: trapping Tim Southee plumb in front. Umpire's finger went up, though Southee had chosen to review it; the third umpire upheld the on-field ruling.

The moment confirmation came through, Atkinson found him mobbed by teammates congratulating him on what was a remarkable achievement. The 26-year-old English-headed pacer celebrated his first international hat-trick-a memory that will definitely be imprinted in his mind forever.

Atkinson's achievement is all the more notable given that he is the first bowler to claim a Test hat-trick in nearly three and a half years.

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One last time, that achievement was accomplished in June 2021, which was last made by the bowler Keshav Maharaj from South Africa when he faced the West Indies and attained a hat-trick.

England bowlers to take hat-trick in Tests

  • Billy Bates vs Australia, Melbourne 1883
  • Johnny Briggs vs Australia, Sydney 1892
  • George Lohmann vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth 1896
  • Jack Hearne vs Australia, Leeds 1899
  • Maurice Allom vs New Zealand, Christchurch 1930
  • Tom Goddard vs South Africa, Johannesburg 1938
  • Peter Loader vs West Indies, Leeds 1957
  • Dominic Cork vs West Indies, Manchester 1995
  • Darren Gough vs Australia, Sydney 1999
  • Matthew Hoggard vs West Indies, Barbados 2004
  • Ryan Sidebottom vs New Zealand, Hamilton 2008
  • Stuart Broad vs India, Nottingham 2011
  • Stuart Broad vs Sri Lanka, Leeds 2014
  • Moeen Ali vs South Africa, The Oval 2017
  • Gus Atkinson vs New Zealand, Wellington 2024

Before this feat of Gus Atkinson, last hat-trick for England in Tests was taken by Moeen Ali. It was in July 2017 when Ali hit a hat-trick taking three wickets on the trot against South Africa at The Oval. Ali's wickets in his hat-trick came in the form of Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, and Morne Morkel.