Atkinson, who admitted he occasionally struggled for rhythm in the series opener at Christchurch, roared back into form, claiming 4-31, a haul that included the 15th hat-trick by an Englishman in Test cricket.
In total, it was the 47th hat-trick in the format's history and it continued what has been a headline-grabbing first year in Test cricket. Earlier this year, Atkinson took 12 wickets on debut against West Indies at Lord's. Months later at the same venue, he struck a first professional hundred in a Test against Sri Lanka.
His hat-trick in Wellington was an eye-catching one. He first dismissed Nathan Smith after the New Zealander was late to withdraw his gloves to a delivery that bounced more than he initially anticipated. The delivery leapt off the pitch into his gloves and then into the stumps to get Atkinson going.
Next up, Atkinson greeted No.10 Matt Henry with a fierce bouncer angled in at the body that could only be fended to Ben Duckett at gully to put the Surrey speedster on a hat-trick.
England took their time to get the field right for the hat-trick ball to the normally aggressive Tim Southee. Stokes decided to make several changes, abandoning the more conventional field that he deployed for Henry to something more suited for short pitched bowling.
The field for Gus Atkinson’s hat-trick ball in Wellington; all pointing to the short ball … full and straight does the trick
— Ali Martin (@ali-martin.bsky.social) December 6, 2024 at 10:53 PM
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The field spread with just three men standing in conventional catching positions, one at slip, another at gully and one fielder in at short-leg. The catchers were complemented by three boundary riders; one at fly slip and then two behind square on the leg-side. There were two other fielders in front of square on the leg-side, and then one more at cover.
The sign was obvious – this was a field for a bouncer. And judging by Southee's footwork, that was what he was expecting. Atkinson instead fired in a much fuller delivery targeting the stumps but Southee was hanging back, seemingly anticipating a short ball. In the end, Southee played back to the full delivery, missed the ball and was out lbw giving Atkinson a moment he'll remember forever.
A HAT-TRICK FOR GUS ATKINSON! 🎩
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 6, 2024
The first-ever cricketer to take a test hat-trick at the Basin Reserve.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/uqtqv2uZMm
