Hat-trick first was news to Aussie Faulkner
JAMES Faulkner has revealed he only knew he was on a hat-trick when the umpire told him as he became the first Lancashire player to take three wickets in three balls in first-class cricket for 12 years.
The Australian World Cup star dismissed Leicestershire’s Ben Raine, Jagir Naik and Charlie Shrek in successive deliveries on the opening day of the LV= County Championship match against Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.
It is the first hat-trick for Lancashire since Jimmy Anderson’s against Essex on the same ground back in 2003.
And he is the first Australian to do it for the county since Ted McDonald scored the last of his three hat-tricks in 1930.
Faulkner’s first wicket came off the last ball of his 12th over as Raine was caught by Simon Kerrigan at backward point, which is why when he trapped Naik lbw with the first delivery of his 13th he had to be reminded he was on a hat-trick.
“I didn’t know until I was walking back to my mark after the second wicket and the umpire told me I was on a hat-trick,” Faulkner revealed.
“The rest of the boys had no idea either.
“It all happened pretty fast. But it was nice to contribute,” added Faulkner.
WATCH James Faulkner’s hat-trick by logging on to manchestereveninignews.co.uk.