New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke has had an impressive Test debut so far in NZ vs SA 2nd Test. The pacer fell just one wicket short of grabbing a five-wicket haul as South Africa were bowled out for 242 runs. Rourke is on a hat-trick after getting rid of the final two Proteas batters in his last two deliveries.
NZ vs SA: Debutant poised to achieve unique feat
If Rourke manages to get a wicket off the first delivery of the 2nd innings, then he would complete taking a hat-trick on debut. Englishman Maurice Allom, Kiwi Peter Petherick and Australian Damien Fleming are the only players who have bagged hat-tricks on debut.
O’Rourke could also join another rare hat-trick club; by securing the three wickets across two innings he would have what is known as a “complicated hat-trick”.
Only three test hat-tricks – by Courtney Walsh , Merv Hughes and Jermaine Lawson – have crossed between two innings of a test.