Lasith Malinga’s four-ball burst against South Africa in 2007 stopped the cricket world cold.
Rashid Khan repeated the feat against Ireland, then Curtis Campher did it in the T20 World Cup.
These moments spark one clear question: how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick?
The term floats around cricket commentary, social media, and fan conversations constantly.
Yet many people misunderstand what it means. Some think it’s six wickets.
Others believe run-outs count. A few assume it must happen in a single over.
This guide cuts through the confusion.
You’ll find the exact definition, the official rules, famous instances with ball-by-ball breakdowns, and the myths that mislead fans.
You’ll also see why this feat remains so rare and why T20 cricket sees more of them than Tests.
How Many Wickets Constitute A Double Hat-Trick?
The Straight Answer: How Many Wickets Are in a Double Hat-Trick?
A double hat-trick is 4 wickets in 4 consecutive legal deliveries by the same bowler in one match.
Hat-Trick vs Double Hat-Trick: What’s the Real Difference?
A hat-trick means 3 wickets in 3 legal balls. A double hat-trick means 4 wickets in 4 legal balls. The structure is identical – consecutive legal deliveries, same bowler, no breaks.
A simple ball-by-ball illustration
Hat-trick (3 in 3)
- Ball 1: Bowled
- Ball 2: LBW
- Ball 3: Caught behind
Double hat-trick (4 in 4)
- Ball 1: Bowled
- Ball 2: Caught
- Ball 3: LBW
- Ball 4: Bowled
Why does the term “double” create confusion for fans?
“Double” doesn’t mean twice a hat-trick. It simply means one extra wicket beyond the standard three.
The term stuck in cricket because it’s quick to say and easy to understand.
However, many fans incorrectly assume “double” means six wickets, which is why clarification matters.
Laws of Cricket and Scoring Rules Explained
The MCC Laws do not formally define “double hat-trick.” It’s a popular cricket term used by commentators, scorers, and fans – but it carries no official status in the rulebook. Scorers still record each wicket normally without special notation.
What qualifies as a legal ball in a double hat-trick sequence?
Only legal deliveries count. A legal ball is any ball that is not a wide or a no-ball. If a bowler bowls a wide or no-ball, the sequence resets because those are not counted as deliveries toward the feat.
Types of dismissals that are officially counted
- Bowled
- LBW
- Caught
- Caught and bowled
- Stumped
- Hit wicket
Run-outs never count because the wicket must be credited to the bowler, not the fielder or the captain’s decision.
Can the wickets be spread across overs or innings?
Yes, the sequence can continue across two overs. The only requirement is four consecutive legal deliveries by the same bowler. No, it cannot cross innings. A new innings resets all sequences and begins fresh.
Popular Misunderstandings Around Double Hat-Tricks
Myth 1: A double hat-trick means taking six wickets
False. It’s always 4 wickets in 4 legal balls. The term “double” doesn’t mean twice a hat-trick. It means one additional wicket beyond three.
Myth 2: Run-outs can be counted in the sequence
False. Run-outs never count because the wicket is credited to a fielder or the team, not the bowler. Any dismissal not credited to the bowler breaks the sequence instantly.
Myth 3: All wickets must fall in the same over
False. The four wickets can span two overs. The only rule is that the balls must be consecutive legal deliveries by the same bowler with no interruption.
Myth 4: Double hat-trick is an officially defined ICC stat
False. It’s a widely used cricket term but not an official category in the MCC Laws or ICC record books. Scorers track it as part of standard match notation, not as a special achievement.
Complete List of Double Hat-Tricks in International Cricket
| Year | Bowler | Team | Format | Opponent | Wicket Sequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | ODI | South Africa | Bowled, Bowled, Caught, Bowled |
| 2019 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | T20I | Ireland | LBW, Bowled, Bowled, LBW |
| 2021 | Curtis Campher | Ireland | T20I | Netherlands | LBW, Caught, Bowled, LBW |
| 2024 | Andre Russell | West Indies | T20I | England | Caught, LBW, Bowled, Caught |
Short match context for every occurrence
- Malinga 2007: Changed the momentum during South Africa’s chase and stunned the cricket world. The spell became one of cricket’s most replayed moments.
- Rashid 2019: Came during Afghanistan’s middle-overs squeeze against Ireland. The burst shifted the match decisively.
- Campher 2021: Historic moment for Irish cricket during the T20 World Cup group stage. Helped Ireland gain control early.
- Russell 2024: Shifted momentum in the death overs against England during a T20I. Demonstrated the impact of sudden cluster wickets.
Famous Non-International Double Hat-Tricks You Should Know
Double hat-tricks in the IPL
No official IPL double hat-trick exists yet. Sunil Narine and Amit Mishra both came close with three-in-three moments, but the fourth chance went begging—either a dropped catch or a survival.
Big Bash League (BBL) examples
Shaun Tait came within reach when he picked three quick wickets with the fourth ball edged but dropped at slip. The pattern showed how close modern T20 bowlers come to the feat.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) moments
Mohammad Sami created a near-viral moment with three consecutive wickets, then nearly trapped the fourth lbw. Ball tracking showed it clipping the stumps, but it stayed not out.
Domestic and club-level achievements
Domestic scorecards regularly show four-in-four moments in state and club cricket. These happen more often because of uneven match-ups and lower-order collapses. Club cricket clips often go viral because the energy feels raw and relatable.
Associate-nation double hat-tricks
A USA Under-19 pacer took four wickets in four balls during a regional qualifier, creating social media buzz. Qualifying tournaments often feature dramatic collapses where cluster wickets change match outcomes.
Double Hat-Tricks by Match Format: Why T20 Cricket Leads?
| Format | Confirmed Double Hat-Tricks | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 0 | Only near-misses exist; defensive batting limits cluster wickets |
| ODI | 1 | Malinga 2007; higher risk-taking than Tests but less aggressive than T20 |
| T20I | 3 | Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, and Andre Russell; aggressive batting creates chances |
| T20 (Franchise/Domestic) | Multiple | More common due to uneven match-ups and fast-paced action |
Why double hat-tricks are rare in Test cricket?
Test cricket rarely produces four-in-four moments because batters settle in for long innings and focus on defence.
Bowlers also bowl longer spells where pressure is applied gradually, not in sudden bursts. The format doesn’t reward cluster wickets in the same way.
Occurrences and challenges in ODIs
ODIs create higher chances than Tests because batters take calculated risks. Bowlers attack more aggressively.
Malinga remains the only confirmed ODI bowler with a double hat-trick, which shows how rare even this intermediate format makes the feat.
Why do T20s and T20Is see them more often?
T20 cricket naturally generates more four-in-four opportunities. Batters swing harder and take risks.
Pressure builds faster. Lower-order batters enter on strike without settling time.
Teams lose wickets in clusters instead of one at a time. This format has already produced three international double hat-tricks.
Breaking It Down Ball by Ball: Iconic Examples Explained
Lasith Malinga vs South Africa (ODI, 2007)
- Ball 1: Yorker, bowled
- Ball 2: Swinging full ball, bowled
- Ball 3: Short ball, caught behind
- Ball 4: Fast yorker, bowled
This spell changed the trajectory of South Africa’s chase. The sequence mixed pace and trajectory to keep batters off-balance.
Curtis Campher vs Netherlands (T20 World Cup, 2021)
- Ball 1: LBW
- Ball 2: Caught
- Ball 3: Bowled
- Ball 4: LBW
Campher mixed his line and length to create different dismissals. The burst came during Ireland’s push for group-stage control.
Rashid Khan vs Ireland (T20I, 2019)
- Ball 1: LBW
- Ball 2: Bowled
- Ball 3: Bowled
- Ball 4: LBW
Rashid’s spell came when Afghanistan needed a breakthrough. It changed the tempo of the innings within seconds.
Other Ultra-Rare Bowling Achievements Related to Double Hat-Tricks
| Feat | Balls Needed | Definition | Rarity Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hat-trick | 3 in 3 | Three wickets in three legal balls | Rare, but happens in every format |
| Double hat-trick | 4 in 4 | Four wickets in four legal balls | Very rare across all formats |
| Five-in-five | 5 in 5 | Five wickets in five legal balls | Mostly club and domestic level |
| Perfect over | 6 in 6 | Six wickets in six legal balls | Seen in youth and club matches |
Near-misses happen constantly, especially in T20 cricket. A batter survives the fourth or fifth ball through luck or a dropped catch at slip.
Just How Rare Is a Double Hat-Trick?
A simple explanation in everyday language
Even if a bowler has a high wicket-taking rate of 5 percent per ball, the chance of four in a row is roughly 1 in 160,000 balls.
Over thousands of international matches, only a handful of four-in-four moments exist.
How often has it happened historically?
Across all international cricket history, only four confirmed double hat-tricks exist – Malinga in ODIs, and Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, and Andre Russell in T20Is.
No Test match has produced one. This rarity demonstrates how exceptionally difficult the feat is.
Conditions and factors that increase or reduce the chances
Factors that increase chances:
- Match pressure creates batters who take risks
- New batters on strike without settled positions
- Swing-friendly conditions or a pitch offering bounce
- Lower middle-order or tail-end batters coming in consecutively
Factors that reduce chances:
- Defensive batting in established positions
- Bowler fatigue is affecting control
- Dropped catches breaking momentum
- Batters adjusting to bowling patterns mid-spell
Fan Terminology, Commentary Language, and Social Media Myths
Commentators and fans use “double hat-trick” because it sounds clean and communicates quickly.
It also saves time compared to saying “four wickets in four legal deliveries.”
In gully cricket, players shout “char ball char wicket” when someone achieves it.
Hindi cricket chatter includes phrases like “bhai ye toh four in four hogaya,” which shows how the feat transcends formal cricket language and enters everyday sports talk.
Social media often exaggerates these moments, sometimes conflating near-misses with actual four-in-fours.
Viral clips sometimes miscount or include wides and no-balls in sequences, spreading misinformation faster than corrections.
Final Verdict: What a Double Hat-Trick Really Means in Cricket
A double hat-trick is 4 wickets in 4 consecutive legal deliveries by the same bowler.
It’s not official in the rulebook, but it’s universally recognized in cricket culture. Run-outs don’t count.
Wides and no-balls don’t count. The sequence can span overs but not innings.
Only four international bowlers have done it. T20 cricket produces them more often than Tests because of how the format naturally generates cluster wickets.
When it happens, it changes matches instantly and stays memorable for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many wickets make a double hat trick?
Four wickets in four legal deliveries by the same bowler in one match.
- Is a double hat trick an official term?
No. It’s widely used but not in the MCC Laws or official ICC records.
- Which bowler has the most double hat-tricks?
No bowler has more than one confirmed four-in-four at the international level.
- Has anyone taken a double hat-trick in Test cricket?
No confirmed double hat-trick exists in Test cricket history.
- Can a run-out count toward a double hat trick?
No. Run-outs break the sequence because the wicket isn’t credited to the bowler.
- Can wides or no-balls be part of the sequence?
No. Only legal deliveries count. Wides and no-balls reset the sequence.
- Can it cross innings?
No. A new innings resets all counts.
- How do scorers record it?
Scorers mark each wicket normally without special notation.
- How often do double hat-tricks happen in T20s?
More often than Tests or ODIs, because batters take risks and wickets cluster faster.
What is the difference between a double hat trick and two hat tricks?
A double hat-trick needs four in four consecutively. Two hat-tricks need six wickets with gaps allowed between sequences.
- Has a double hat trick decided a match?
Yes. Several four-in-four spells changed international matches, including Malinga’s 2007 ODI and multiple T20 games.
- Are there five-in-five or six-in-six records at the international level?
No. These occur only in domestic or club cricket.
Conclusion
A double hat-trick means 4 wickets in 4 legal deliveries, and this guide has covered every aspect of it. You’ve seen the definition, the official rules, the famous international instances, the myths that confuse fans, and the reasons T20 cricket produces more of them than other formats.
These bowling bursts remind us how fast cricket can turn. One over can shift an entire match. One bowler’s four-ball spell becomes replayed for decades. The rarity of the feat—only four confirmed international instances—shows how difficult it remains even for elite bowlers in peak form.
Key takeaways:
- Always 4 wickets in 4 legal balls, same bowler
- Run-outs and wides don’t count
- Can span overs but not innings
- T20 format produces more than Tests or ODIs
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