The SONS of England

- Karthik Narayan

The game of cricket originated in England, or so it was told… but nobody would have believed the Home of Cricket was ever from England, simply with the good-for-nothing performances of England in the World Cup at home in 1999 and shortly thereafter.

But then, everything has changed, the advent of the Gooches, Gowers are all over. There shall be a return of the Botham war dance over a few hat-tricks, the feasting of runs shall yet again begin… and continue to flow till the next cycle starts… or so, did Nostrodamus predict all that?? Does History repeat itself?? Does the tide turn its flow in cycles?? Is that is what is called the turn of the tide??

The history of the Hat-trick in ODIs
The hat-trick is something unique in cricket, simply because it is rare, and it happens to be a bowler’s delight. Consistency over a period of 3 consecutive deliveries simply means that it is not anything short of a miracle. Sustenance over 3 consecutive balls calls for great bowling and it simply belongs only to the people who can turn their arm over and capture the minds of everyone. There is no version of the Hat-trick for batsman!

Over the periods, ever since One day Cricket came into existence, this newfangled art of the bowlers has increased ever so much…. With all the talk about Cricket turning to be a batsman’s game, this has gained ever so much importance like never before!

Ever since the first ever hat-trick by Jalal-ud-Din of Pakistan against the Aussies in 1982-83, there have been 19 such instances of ODI Hat-tricks.

List of hat-tricks
Jalal-ud-Din (Pakistan) v Australia, 1982-83

Bruce Reid (Australia) v New Zealand, 1985-86

Chetan Sharma (India) v New Zealand, 1987-88 ¥

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) v West Indies, 1989-90

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) v Australia, 1989-90

Kapil Dev (India) v Sri Lanka, 1990-91

Aqib Javed (Pakistan) v India, 1991-92

Danny Morrison (New Zealand) v India, 1993-94

Waqar Younis (Pakistan) v New Zealand, 1994-95

Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) v Zimbabwe, 1996-97

Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe) v England, 1996-97

Anthony Stuart (Australia) v Pakistan, 1996-97

Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) v Zimbabwe, 1999 ¥

Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) v Zimbabwe, 2001

Mohammad Sami (Pakistan) v West Indies, 2002

Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) v Bangladesh, 2003 ¥

Brett Lee (Australia) v Kenya, 2003 ¥

James Anderson (England) v Pakistan, 2003

Steve Harmison (England) v India, 2004

¥ = at World Cup

England, as one can say, has not seen much of this GREAT ART of BOWLING 3 magic balls one after another! History would point out that there have never been any sort of England magic in this game so called to have been the home.

When one hears that England has never achieved the Bowler’s Spectacle in this Shortened Game in its 22 year old history of this brand of cricket, it does not really bring any huge frown in the face.. Its well known that they have not really been able to produce it at all.

Test Match hat-tricks by England bowlers

W Bates v Australia (Melbourne) 1882-83

J Briggs v Australia (Sydney) 1891-92

G A Lohmann v S Africa (Port Elizabeth) 1895-96

J T Hearne v Australia (Headingley) 1899

M J C Allom v N Zealand (Christchurch) 1929-30

T W J Goddard v S Africa (Johannesburg) 1938-39

P J Loader v West Indies (Headingley) 1957

D G Cork v West Indies (Old Trafford) 1995

D Gough v Australia (Sydney) 1998-99

Matthew Hoggard v West Indies (Barbados) 2003-04

James AnderSON, a new rookie fast bowler, stamped the arrival of
England in this Holy Book of Magic. One fine match, in 2003, England vs Pakistan at Home, the record was W-W-W at last! With the wicket of Abdul Razzaq, this string of W’s in the scoresheet started.. Caught at midoff by Marcus Trescothick. Speedster Shoaib Akhtar walked in very quickly only to walk back, caught behind by the ‘keeper; the Historical batsman in England History was Mohammad Sami, clean bowled off a good Yorker. Finally, Magic recreated, for England something to cheer about at last.

Yet another English “SON” relived that Special Joy that only a bowler can give… Steve HarmiSON! His Hat-Trick came in the recent Natwest Series against India in September 2004.

The wickets which made all the difference to that scorecard were: Mohammed Kaif, Laxmipathy Balaji and Ashish Nehra! It was quite unique to see a caught and bowled wicket to complete a hat-trick. I personally haven’t sent much of that!

The SeaSONS have changed! The English Team is once again on the path of glory… and it is high time that the “Fathers of Cricket” learn to appreciate the achievements of the SONs… and create more SONs purely for the benefit of the Magician’s Book.