Gus Atkinson etched his name into cricketing history with a maiden international hat-trick during the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. The 26-year-old pacer struck on Day 2, dismissing Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee in successive deliveries, bundling the hosts out for a mere 125 runs in their first innings.
With this remarkable feat, Atkinson became the 47th cricketer to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket, earning widespread acclaim. The memorable moment unfolded in Atkinson’s ninth over, the 35th of the innings. First, he dismissed Smith for 14 runs with a deceptive delivery that kept low, forcing an inside edge onto the stumps.
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On the very next ball, Atkinson bowled short to Henry, who edged it to gully, where Ben Duckett made no mistake. With two down in two balls, the tension was palpable as Tim Southee walked to the crease. Recognizing Southee’s natural aggression, Captain Ben Stokes made strategic field adjustments, signalling a potential short-ball tactic.
Gus Atkinson Hat Trick
NZ v Eng – 2nd Test Day 2 pic.twitter.com/WlyTEBtj8P— Juan der Rérre (@InLoveWithAView) December 6, 2024
But Gus Atkinson smartly bowled a fuller delivery that trapped Southee plumb in front. The umpire’s finger went up immediately, and while Southee opted for a DRS review, the decision stood, confirming Atkinson’s place in Test cricket folklore. It was England’s first Test hat-trick since Moeen Ali achieved the feat against South Africa in 2017.
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England capitalized on their bowling dominance, securing a 155-run first-innings lead. Their batting lineup shone in the second innings, with Ben Duckett scoring 92 and young Jacob Bethell contributing an impressive 96. With New Zealand on the back foot, the visitors look poised to seal a commanding victory and tighten their grip on the series.
Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
