Cricket is a game that is full of uncommon and exciting events. Since it is towering sixes to nail-biting finishes, fans live on the drama. However, none of the spectacular accomplishments leave bowlers and spectators more excited than a hat-trick. But what becomes of a bowler who will go a step further? This is when the phrase double hat-trick comes in.
Fans often ask: How many wickets constitute a double hat-trick? The solution is easy but remarkable, four wickets in four successive legal deliveries by the same bowler. We can dissect it, examine well-known examples, and learn why such an accomplishment is so uncommon.
Quick Answer: Double Hat-Trick Defined
When a bowler dismisses four batters in four consecutive legal deliveries, it is a double hat-trick.
- Dismissals to the credit of the bowler only (bowled, lbw, caught, stumped, hit wicket).
- Non-bowler dismissals such as run-outs do not count.
- Deliveries should be legal, no wides and no-balls.
So, how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick? Four balls to four wickets.
Hat-Trick vs Double Hat-Trick
- Hat-trick: 3 wickets in 3 consecutive balls.
- Double hat-trick: 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls.
Example:
- Hat-trick: Ball 1 (bowled), Ball 2 (lbw), Ball 3 (caught).
- Double hat-trick: Add Ball 4 (bowled/stumped/etc.).
This is what renders the double hat-trick a continuation of the traditional hat-trick only much rarer.
Official Rules & Scorer Notes
Interestingly, the MCC Laws of Cricket do not formally stipulate the meaning of double hat-trick. It is rather a cricketing slang, but it is generally acceptable across forms.
- Legal deliveries: No extras.
- Countable dismissals Bowled, lbw, caught, stumped, hit wicket.
- Uncounted dismissals: Run-outs, time out, obstructing the field.
- Overs: Are allowed to extend over overs (e.g. final ball of one over + first three balls of the next).
Famous International Double Hat-Tricks
Here’s a table of some iconic double hat-tricks in international cricket:
| Year | Bowler | Country | Format | Opponent | Wicket Sequence | Match Result |
| 2007 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | ODI | South Africa | Bowled, Bowled, Caught, Bowled | SA won by 1 wicket |
| 2019 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | T20I | Ireland | lbw, Bowled, Bowled, lbw | Afg won by 32 runs |
| 2021 | Curtis Campher | Ireland | T20I | Netherlands | lbw, Caught, Bowled, lbw | Ireland won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | Andre Russell | West Indies | T20I | England | Caught, lbw, Bowled, Caught | WI won by 5 runs |
Each of these moments electrified fans and cemented the bowler’s place in cricketing folklore.
Domestic & Franchise Cricket Examples
- IPL: Sunil Narine and Amit Mishra narrowly missed an official double hat-trick.
- BBL & PSL: Shaun Tait and Mohammad Sami had almost hit the mark.
- Club cricket: According to CricHeroes records, there are numerous four-in-four performances in the grassroots.
Format-Wise Breakdown
- Tests: No known double hat-tricks, but there have been close calls.
- ODIs: Lasith Malinga (2007) is the only one to do it.
- T20Is: There are several confirmed cases Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, Andre Russell.
- Domestic T20s: More common because of aggressive batting styles.
Ball-by-Ball Case Studies
Lasith Malinga vs South Africa (2007)
- Bowled Shaun Pollock.
- Bowled Andrew Hall.
- Caught Jacques Kallis.
- Bowled Makhaya Ntini.
Rashid Khan vs Ireland (2019)
- lbw Kevin O’Brien.
- Bowled George Dockrell.
- Bowled Shane Getkate.
- lbw Stuart Thompson.
Curtis Campher vs Netherlands (2021)
- lbw Colin Ackermann.
- Caught Scott Edwards.
- Bowled Logan van Beek.
- lbw Fred Klaassen.
Andre Russell vs England (2024)
- Caught Phil Salt.
- lbw Harry Brook.
- Bowled Moeen Ali.
- Caught Chris Jordan.
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Related Rare Feats
| Feat | Balls | Explanation | Occurrence |
| Hat-trick | 3 in 3 | Three wickets in three balls | Common |
| Double hat-trick | 4 in 4 | Four wickets in four balls | Very rare |
| Five-in-five | 5 in 5 | Five wickets in five balls | Mostly club level |
| Perfect over | 6 in 6 | Six wickets in six balls | Youth/club matches |
Probability & Rarity
The possibility of a bowler getting four wickets in four balls is, statistically, very small, only once in 160,000 balls is calculated.
Risk predisposing factors:
- Swing-friendly conditions.
- New batters at the crease.
- Stressful moments in T20 cricket.
Fan Talk & Language
The fans usually use vivid words to describe the feat:
- Four balls, four wickets. char ball char wicket.
- “Four in four.”
- The drama is normally enhanced by commentary, and the moment is memorable.
Final Word
So, how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick? It is always four wickets in four legal deliveries always.
It is one of the most uncommon accomplishments in cricket that is commemorated at all levels and formats. It could be the thunderbolts of Malinga, the spin magic of Rashid and the pace power of Russell, but the double hat-trick is still an exciting flashback of the unpredictability of cricket.
Whenever you hear the word again, you will understand perfectly what it is and why it is so special.
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