May Days Poems -'Hat-Tricks' May 22

 

May 22

In all the years I played cricket I never manged to take a hat trick as a bowler. I did once take a hat trick of catches while fielding, but that was as close as I came.

However, on this May day in 1907, the charismatic cricketing all-rounder Albert Trott became the first man to score two hat-tricks in the same innings of a first class man. A particularly rare feat, it must be said.

Trott played test matches for both Australia and England and till now is the only player to hit a ball over the top of the Lords’ dressing room. His test average for Australia is 102.50, even higher than Bradman.

The match in question was also the benefit match for Trott played at Lords’. The teams were Middlesex, for whom Trott was playing against Somerset. The record came in the fourth innings of the match. Middlesex won the toss and decided to bat. They put up 286 in their first innings with Trott contributing just one run. Somerset conceded a 50 runs lead as their first innings concluded with 236. Middlesex scored 213 in their second innings as Trott contributed with valuable 35 runs in the middle order.

With a target of 264 in front of them, Somerset started well as the openers added 56 runs. They lost their second wicket at 74. The match turned soon after as Trott got in a tremendous bowling form. With the score showing 77, he got the wicket of Lewis as leg before. Poyntz, Woods and Robson, all three were bowled in next three deliveries as Trott completed a brilliant four-in-four. Somerset slumped to 77 for six and their chase was derailed. But Trott was not yet done. After Frank Tarrant took the seventh Somerset wicket Trott picked the last three wickets with the score at 97. Again the batsmen Mordaunt, Wickham and Bailey were gone on consecutive deliveries and Trott completed his second hat-trick and finished with 7-20 in the second innings.


 Hat-tricks

Albert Trott

I kid you not

Took two hatricks

On the spot.

He sent the Somerset team into a spin

Wickets tumbled

Albert grinned

Seven for twenty

-now that’s plenty

That day Albert Trott

Believe it, or not

Achieved a lot

A rare sporting feat

Let me repeat

How’s that?

 

©Alan j Wright

 

 

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