On This Day, 147 years ago: Australia fast bowler Fred Spofforth claimed the first hat-trick in Test cricket history

On this day — January 2 — 147 years ago, Australian fast bowler Fred Spofforth became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket history. Spofforth achieved the historic feat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground way back in 1879, helping the hosts bundle out England for 113 in the first innings of the Test match.

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A hat-trick in cricket remains a fascinating achievement for bowlers even today because of its impact on the proceedings of a contest. It can turn the momentum upside down as the batting line-up loses three wickets in three balls, giving the bowling side a clear edge.




Spofforth's achievement almost one-and-a-half centuries ago was one such turning point in the contest, leaving the opponents struggling to put up a fight as Australia won the match by 10 wickets. It was just the second Test match for Spofforth, and he knocked over three English batters in consecutive deliveries to start one of the most fascinating feats in the game of cricket.

Who was Fred Spofforth?
The tall pacer was born on September 9, 1853, in Balmain, Sydney. The right-arm fast bowler made his international debut for Australia against England at Melbourne in March 1877.

He went on to play 18 matches for Australia in his 10-year international career from 1877 to 1887, taking an impressive 94 wickets at a stunning average of 18.41. He took seven five-wicket hauls in his career and four ten-wicket hauls, with best bowling figures of 7 for 44.


The Sydney Test in January 1887 against England was his last appearance for the Aussies.

Even though his Test career lasted just 10 years, Spofforth had a long 23-year first-class career from 1874/75 to 1887/88. He took an astounding 853 wickets in 155 first-class matches, including 84 five-wicket hauls and 32 ten-wicket match hauls. His career-best first-class figures were 9 for 18, and he had a career first-class bowling average of a sub-15 — 14.95.

How the historic Melbourne Test transpired in which Spofforth took the first hat-trick in Test cricket:

After making his debut at the same venue in March 1877, Spofforth got the chance to represent Australia again after more than a year, in January 1879. Spofforth took just four wickets in his debut match, but the story was about to turn drastically this time around.

England opted to bat first after winning the toss on that fateful day. Spofforth started with a bang, removing England opener George Ulyett for a duck. His bowling partner Frank Allan then dismissed Alexander Webbe and Bunny Lucas, before Spofforth made Monkey Hornby his second victim of the day. England were struggling at 14/4 at that time before slowly reaching 26 for 4.

Spofforth then produced the most famous three consecutive deliveries to create Test history. He removed The Revd Vernon Royle, Francis MacKinnon and Tom Emmett to reduce England to 26/7. The burst gave Spofforth his first Test five-wicket haul too.

England were in dire straits before captain Lord Harris (33) and Charlie Absolom (52) steadied the ship somewhat with a 63-run stand for the eighth wicket. But the visitors soon folded for 113, with Spofforth taking another wicket to finish with figures of 6 for 48 in 25 overs.

Despite Emmett's 7 for 68, Australia managed to take a solid 143-run first-innings lead, scoring 256. Alec Bannerman was the top-scorer for Australia with 73, as seven more batters scored double-digit knocks in the innings.

England failed to improve much in the second innings too, with Spofforth and Allan wreaking havoc once again. In fact, Spofforth bettered his career-best figures from the first innings with 7 for 62 in 35 overs in the second. There was no hat-trick in the second innings, but Spofforth signed off the match with two five-wicket hauls and a match haul of 13 for 110.

Six England batters crossed the double-digit mark in their second innings, compared to just two in the first, but they managed to put up only 160 on the board, giving Australia a mere 18-run target. Australia knocked off the target in just 2.3 overs to win the match by a commanding 10 wickets.

It was a stunning show from Spofforth — two five-wicket hauls in the match and a historic first hat-trick in Test cricket.