Who was the first bowler to create a hattrick at lord’s ?

Asked 14-Aug-2018
Viewed 476 times

0

Who was the first bowler to create a hattrick at lord’s ?



1 Answer


0

Taking a hat-trick in Test cricket is one of every bowler's dreams. And when that feat occurs at Lord's Ground, the cricketing mecca, it becomes much more spectacular. At Lord's, just one bowler has ever picked up a hat-trick. Former South African bowler Geoff Griffin holds this record.

Geoff Griffin, who was born on June 12, 1939, in Greytown, South Africa, was a multi-talented guy who chose to pursue a career in cricket. He began playing for his state team after graduation. In every encounter for the team, he put in outstanding performances. He eventually gained a place in the national squad when he aged 20 and was the youngest player to make his debut for South Africa at the time.

No one could have predicted what Griffin would do when he came out to play against England in the most prestigious cricket field in the world, Lord's, in 1960. In this encounter, he scored a hat-trick against the famed English squad. On successive deliveries, he eliminated MJK Smith, Peter Walker, and Fred Trueman. He became the first South African cricketer to score a hat-trick in a Test match. He also became the first and only cricketer in the world to score a hat-trick at Lord's. His record remains unblemished to this day.

Who was the first bowler to create a hattrick at lord’s ?

11 no-balls were given during Geoff Griffin's bowling in the same match in which he took a hat-trick. Following this match, the umpire repeatedly gave a no-ball during his bowling in an exhibition match. However, this did not include going past the no-ball crease or throwing the ball in the air above the batsman's waist. It was more of a no-ball for 'throwing.' He had a jerk in his hand, and it appeared to everyone during the bowling that his motion was not in accordance with the rules.

The trip to England, during which Griffin scored a hat-trick at Lord's, turned out to be Griffin's final series as an international player. After then, he was never a member of the team for the same reason – throwing.
Griffin was critically injured in a car accident when he was in high school. His hand, particularly his elbow, was severely damaged as a result of the accident, and he was unable to catch the appropriate angle of the bowling action, therefore ending his international career.