In the world of cricket, we often celebrate international achievements, but some extraordinary records from first-class cricket deserve equal recognition. One such record is held by former England leg-spinner Doug Wright, who achieved an astonishing 7 hat-tricks during his first-class career, a feat that remains unmatched.
Born on 21 August 1914 in Kent, Wright played for England and Kent between 1932 and 1957. While he represented England in 34 Test matches, taking 108 wickets, his impact in first-class cricket was immense. In 497 matches, Wright claimed a staggering 2,056 wickets. However, his most remarkable achievement was taking 7 hat-tricks, a record still untouched and likely to remain for years.
Wright’s ability to change the course of a match with his hat-tricks earned him immense respect among his peers. He achieved this feat while playing for Kent, where he took five wickets in an innings on 150 occasions and ten or more wickets in 42 matches. His dominance in first-class cricket remains legendary.
Following Wright in the list of hat-trick takers in first-class cricket are Tom Goddard and Charlie Parker, both of whom managed to take six hat-tricks each. Other notable names include Valance Jupp and Scofield Haigh, each having achieved five hat-tricks in their careers.
Malinga’s International Hat-Trick Feat
In international cricket, the record for most hat-tricks belongs to Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who took five hat-tricks across Test, ODI, and T20 formats. Malinga’s distinctive bowling action and his ability to deliver under pressure made him one of the most feared bowlers in the world. His first hat-trick came against South Africa in an ODI in 2007.
While Malinga may dominate the international scene, Doug Wright’s record of seven hat-tricks in first-class cricket stands as one of the most remarkable and enduring achievements in cricket history.
