The oxford dictionary describes “It came into use after HH Stephenson took three wickets in three balls for the all-England eleven against the twenty-two of Hallam at the Hyde Park ground, Sheffield in 1858. A collection was held for Stephenson (as was customary for outstanding feats by professionals) and he was presented with a cap or hat bought with the proceeds.”

On This Day in 1879, Fred Spofforth scalped the first hat-trick in Test cricket, against England at MCG. One of his victims Francis Alexander MacKinnon, the 35th MacKinnon of MacKinnon, was facing his first ball in international cricket.

Merv Hughes hat-trick spread over three overs, only player to do so. The Aussies dismissed Ambrose of the last ball of the over. In the first ball of the next over dismissed Pattrick Patterson to wrap Windies first inns. He completed his hat-trick when he had Greenidge of the first ball of his second inns. Lawson against West Indies and Walsh’s against Australia also spread over two inns.

Batsman involved in more than one hattrick

['RS Kaluwitharana', ' SCG MacGill', ' TA Ward']

Some other interesting moments in test hattrick include Irfan hattrick in the first over of the test, Nuwan Zoysa’s first three balls in a test, Siddle birthday hattrick. Alok Kapali has a rare record of half of his career victim as hat-trick. The Bangladesh bowler has taken only six wickets in his career including a hat-trick against Pakistan in the 2003 Peshawar Test.

Akram, Broad, Trumble, and TJ Matthews are the only players who have taken more than one hattrick in their test career. Matthews hattrick was in each inn of the same test against Africa at Manchester. Trumble’s second hattrick was also his last career match, a record only equaled by Griffin in 1960.

Hat-trick taken by each team players

Hat-trick against each team

Hat trick on debut in test

Venue to witness most test hattrick