You may already know the phrase “hat trick” from hockey or soccer. In cricket, it has a stricter meaning. The wickets must fall one after another, and the same bowler must receive credit for all three. That detail connects the term to the wider basic cricket rules.
For a new fan, the sequence can be hard to notice because it may continue into the bowler’s next over. This Cricket Focus guide explains what counts, what does not count, and what commentators mean when they say a bowler is “on a hat trick.”
A hat trick in cricket happens when the same bowler takes three wickets from three consecutive deliveries in the same match. Each dismissal must be credited to that bowler.
The wickets do not have to fall in one over. A bowler can take two wickets at the end of one over and complete the hat trick with the first delivery of the next over they bowl.
What Is a Hat Trick in Cricket?
A cricket hat trick is a sequence of three bowler-credited wickets from three consecutive deliveries by one bowler.
Three conditions matter:
- The same bowler delivers all three wicket-taking balls.
- The wickets fall on that bowler’s three consecutive deliveries.
- Every dismissal is recorded as a wicket for the bowler.
The batter can be dismissed in different ways. For example, the first batter may be bowled, the second caught, and the third out leg before wicket. The dismissal methods do not need to match.
The sequence is what matters. There cannot be an ordinary non-wicket delivery by that bowler between the three credited wickets.
Simple Hat-Trick Example
Imagine a bowler delivers the following three balls:
| Delivery | Result | Bowler’s wicket? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Batter is bowled | Yes |
| 2 | Next batter is caught | Yes |
| 3 | Next batter is out LBW | Yes |
The bowler takes a wicket with every delivery. That is a hat trick.
The batting team loses three players without facing a non-wicket delivery from that bowler. This is why a hat trick can change a match so quickly.
Does a Hat Trick Have to Happen in One Over?
No. The three wickets can be split across two overs.
Suppose a bowler takes wickets with balls five and six of an over. A different bowler then delivers the next over from the other end. When the first bowler returns, they take another wicket with their first ball.
For that bowler, the sequence is still:
Wicket, wicket, wicket.
The other bowler’s over does not interrupt the sequence because it contains none of the first bowler’s deliveries.
This is one reason a viewer may miss a hat-trick chance. The second wicket can end an over, and several minutes may pass before the original bowler returns.
Can a Hat Trick Continue Across Innings?
Yes, in a multi-innings match such as a Test or first-class game, the sequence can continue into the next innings of the same match.
Imagine a bowler takes the final two wickets of a team’s first innings with consecutive deliveries. When that team bats again, the same bowler dismisses a batter with their first delivery. The bowler has completed a hat trick across the two innings.
The sequence does not carry into a different match. Two wickets at the end of one game and another wicket in the next game do not form an official hat trick.
The simple boundary is the match itself. Overs and innings may change, but the match must stay the same.
Which Dismissals Count Toward a Hat Trick?
Only dismissals credited to the bowler count toward an individual hat trick.
Common examples include:
- Bowled
- Caught
- Leg before wicket, usually written as LBW
- Stumped
- Hit wicket
The three wickets can use any combination of these methods. A bowler does not need to dismiss all three batters in the same way.
Does a Run-Out Count in a Hat Trick?
No. A run-out is recorded as a team dismissal, not a wicket for the bowler. It therefore does not count toward an individual bowler’s hat trick.
For example, imagine a bowler takes one wicket, a batter is run out on the next delivery, and the bowler takes another wicket after that. Three batters have been dismissed in three deliveries, but the bowler has only two credited wickets.
If this distinction is new, the run-out rule in cricket explains how the fielding team breaks the wicket while a batter is outside their ground.
Commentators may informally call three team dismissals in three balls a team hat trick. That is different from an individual bowling hat trick.
What Is the Hat-Trick Ball?
A bowler is “on a hat trick” after taking wickets with two consecutive deliveries.
The next delivery is called the hat-trick ball. If the bowler takes another credited wicket, the hat trick is complete.
The phrase describes the opportunity, not a special type of ball. The bowler may use a fast ball, slower ball, yorker, bouncer, or spin delivery. Normal cricket laws still apply.
Batting teams often respond carefully. A new batter may defend the hat-trick ball instead of trying an attacking shot. The fielding captain may also place close catchers around the bat.
Hat Trick vs Three Wickets in One Over
These achievements can look similar, but they are not always the same.
| Achievement | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hat trick | Three bowler-credited wickets on three consecutive deliveries |
| Three wickets in an over | Three wickets during the over, with other deliveries allowed between them |
| Team hat trick | Informal phrase for three team dismissals in three consecutive deliveries |
A bowler might take wickets on balls one, three, and six of an over. That is an excellent three-wicket over, but it is not a hat trick because the wickets were not consecutive.
A hat trick can also happen across two overs. Therefore, not every three-wicket over is a hat trick, and not every hat trick fits inside one over.
What Is Four Wickets in Four Balls Called?
The clearest name is four wickets in four consecutive deliveries, often shortened to four in four.
Some commentators call it a double hat trick. The logic is that four consecutive wickets contain two overlapping three-wicket sequences:
- Wickets 1, 2, and 3 form the first hat trick.
- Wickets 2, 3, and 4 form the second.
“Double hat trick” is an informal cricket term. The MCC Laws do not create a separate rule or award for it. For beginners, “four wickets in four balls” is usually the clearest wording.
Why Is It Called a Hat Trick?
The phrase began in cricket before spreading to other sports.
The widely accepted story connects it to English bowler H. H. Stephenson, who took three wickets in three consecutive balls in 1858. Supporters reportedly collected money and presented him with a hat to mark the achievement.
The exact history has been discussed by cricket historians, so it is better to treat this as the traditional origin story rather than a cricket law. A detailed cricket hat-trick overview covers the definition, history, and unusual examples.
For American fans, the closest simple comparison may be a pitcher recording three straight outs. However, it is only a rough comparison. A cricket wicket can happen in several ways, and one bowler may continue the sequence across separate overs.
Can Hat Tricks Happen in Every Cricket Format?
Yes. A hat trick can happen in Test cricket, one-day cricket, T20 cricket, and domestic competitions.
The definition stays the same. The match situation changes how the moment feels.
Test Cricket
A hat trick may cross overs or even innings. Batters often have more time, but difficult pitch or ball conditions can still create sudden collapses.
ODI Cricket
Batters must balance scoring with protecting wickets. A hat trick can stop a strong innings or change the final overs of a chase.
T20 Cricket
Batters attack more often because each team usually has only 20 overs. That aggression can create wicket chances, especially near the end of an innings.
A hat trick is never guaranteed to win the match. Its value depends on the score, the batters dismissed, and the stage of the game.
Why Is a Hat Trick So Important?
A hat trick removes three batters in the shortest possible wicket sequence for one bowler.
It can:
- End an important partnership.
- Expose lower-order batters.
- Stop a fast scoring period.
- Change the pressure in a run chase.
- Give the fielding team control of the match.
The third wicket also produces a powerful emotional moment. Teammates usually run toward the bowler, while the batting team must send out another new player immediately.
Still, the match result matters more than the individual achievement. A bowler can take a hat trick in a losing cause, just as a team can win without anyone taking one.
Common Hat-Trick Confusions
“Any Three Wickets in an Over Make a Hat Trick”
No. The three wickets must be consecutive deliveries for the same bowler.
“A Run-Out Counts Because a Wicket Fell”
Not for the bowler’s individual hat trick. A run-out is not added to the bowler’s wicket total.
“The Hat Trick Ends When the Over Ends”
No. It can continue into the bowler’s next over.
“Two Bowlers Can Share a Hat Trick”
Not an individual bowling hat trick. The same bowler must receive all three wickets.
“The Sequence Can Continue Into the Next Match”
No. It must be completed in the same match.
“A Hat-Trick Ball Is a Special Delivery”
No. It is simply the next delivery after a bowler has taken two wickets in a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wickets are needed for a hat trick in cricket?
Three wickets are needed. They must be credited to the same bowler and fall on that bowler’s three consecutive deliveries in the same match.
Can a hat trick be spread across two overs?
Yes. A bowler may take wickets at the end of one over and complete the hat trick with the first delivery of their next over.
Can a hat trick happen across two innings?
Yes, in a Test or first-class match. The wickets may cross innings as long as they are the bowler’s consecutive deliveries in the same match.
Does a run-out count toward a bowler’s hat trick?
No. A run-out is a team dismissal and is not credited to the bowler. It may be part of an informal team hat trick, but not the bowler’s individual hat trick.
What does “on a hat trick” mean?
It means a bowler has taken wickets with two consecutive deliveries. The next delivery is the hat-trick ball.
Is four wickets in four balls a double hat trick?
It is often called a double hat trick because the four wickets contain two overlapping three-wicket sequences. “Four in four” is clearer, and double hat trick is not a separate MCC Law.
Conclusion
A hat trick in cricket belongs to one bowler who takes three credited wickets from three consecutive deliveries in the same match. It can happen in one over, across two overs, or across innings in a multi-innings match, but it cannot continue into a new match. Run-outs do not count for the bowler, and the hat-trick ball is simply the next delivery after two wickets in a row. Once you follow the bowler’s own delivery sequence, the term becomes much easier to recognize during commentary or on a scorecard.
