Gus Atkinson took England’s first Test match hat-trick for seven years as he skittled New Zealand’s tail on day two in Wellington.
The Surrey seamer had enjoyed an impressive start to life in England whites, already picking up a five-fer, 10-fer and a century in his nine matches going into the ongoing second Test.
But things got even better in the morning session of day two, as he took to the field bowling in tandem with Brydon Carse in what looks to finally be a settled leading seam partnership for Ben Stokes‘ side.
New Zealand, who look all at sea and a side a million miles away from the one that won in India just a matter of weeks ago, were five wickets down going into the second day after England posted 280 with the bat.
They would have hoped to put up more of a fight than they have done so far this series, but Tom Blundell and William O’Rourke were both dismissed off the bowling of Carse early on.
And then it was the Atkinson show. He took the wickets of first Nathan Smith, then Matt Henry and finally Tim Southee to claim yet another historical feat in an England shirt.Â
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