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Hat-tricks are rare. But unexpected hat-tricks? They’re even rarer — and way more dramatic. These are the moments when bowlers you never imagined pull off something unforgettable, flipping entire matches on their heads. From debutants to part-timers, these unexpected hat-tricks stunned fans and crushed opponents. Let’s dive into the top 10 jaw-dropping moments in cricket when no one — literally no one — saw it coming.
1. Peter Siddle vs England (2010 Ashes)
🇦🇺 Australia vs England
On his birthday, Peter Siddle gifted himself an unexpected hat-tricks during the Ashes. Known more for hard work than flair, Siddle removed Alastair Cook, Matt Prior, and Stuart Broad in one electric spell — shocking England.
Why It Was Unexpected: Siddle wasn’t a hat-trick kind of bowler, and it came out of nowhere on the biggest stage.
2. Wasim Akram vs Sri Lanka (1999 Asian Test Championship)
🇵🇰 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Everyone knew Akram was lethal, but even by his standards, this was magic. With reverse swing at full throttle, he delivered an unexpected hat-tricks that ended Sri Lanka’s resistance in seconds.
Why It Was Unexpected: Came in a low-stakes Test, but changed the entire tone of the series.
3. Chaminda Vaas vs Bangladesh (2003 World Cup)
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
Vaas shocked the cricketing world by taking a hat-trick in the first three balls of the match. Though Bangladesh were minnows then, a World Cup hat-trick in the opening over was absolutely unheard of.
Why It Was Unexpected: A hat-trick off the first three balls — never done before or after.
4. Kagiso Rabada vs England (2016 T20I)
🇿🇦 South Africa VS England
In a T20I where England were cruising, Rabada produced an unexpected hat-tricks at the death, ripping apart the middle order and sealing an unlikely victory.
Why It Was Unexpected: England needed just a few runs, but Rabada’s calm and pace flipped the script.
5. Mohammed Shami vs Afghanistan (2019 World Cup)
🇮🇳 India VS Afghanistan
In a tense low-scoring thriller, Shami took an unexpected hat-tricks in the final over, defending India’s narrow total. This was his first World Cup game of the tournament.
Why It Was Unexpected: Shami wasn’t in the starting XI until that match, and he sealed it in style.
6. Mervyn Dillon vs Bangladesh (2002)
🇧🇩 Bangladesh VS West Indies
Not known for flashy stats, Dillon’s unexpected hat-tricks demolished Bangladesh’s fragile lower order in no time — wrapping up the innings and silencing the crowd.
Why It Was Unexpected: Dillon had never taken more than 2 wickets in an over before.
7. Kuldeep Yadav vs Australia (2017 ODI)
🇮🇳 India VS Australia
The chinaman spinner, relatively new to the side, bamboozled Australia’s middle order with an unexpected hat-trick, triggering a collapse that turned the match around.
Why It Was Unexpected: Young and new, Kuldeep wasn’t even the lead spinner that day.
8. Lasith Malinga vs New Zealand (2019 T20I)
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka VS New Zealand
Malinga turned back the clock with an unexpected hat-trick, then went one better — taking 4 wickets in 4 balls. A reminder that legends never die quietly.
Why It Was Unexpected: Malinga was thought to be past his prime — but proved everyone wrong.
9. Andrew Caddick vs West Indies (2000 Test)
🇬🇧 England VS West Indies
Caddick produced an unexpected hat-trick in an innings where West Indies looked dangerous. His precision dismantled the middle order and changed the match’s tone.
Why It Was Unexpected: Came out of a flat spell — suddenly sparked a turnaround.
10. Ajit Agarkar vs Australia (1999 Test)
🇮🇳 India VS Australia
Often criticized for inconsistency, Agarkar pulled off an unexpected hat-trick against one of the strongest batting line-ups of the era. He dismissed Gilchrist, Warne, and Brett Lee in a fiery burst.
Why It Was Unexpected: Against peak Australia — and Agarkar wasn’t even the lead bowler.
These unexpected hat-tricks remind us why cricket is the most unpredictable sport on the planet. From journeymen to legends, from Test cricket to T20s — the thrill of three wickets in three balls never fades. And when it comes from the unlikeliest hands, it becomes a story etched in time.
So next time a bowler starts building rhythm, keep your eyes peeled. You might just witness another entry in the list of cricket’s most unexpected hat-tricks.
