English Bowler Joins Wasim Akram; Picks Two Hat-Tricks In Two Matches

Henry Crocombe picked his second hat-trick in two matches [Source: SussexCCC/X.com]Sussex County Club bowler Henry Crocombe was the talk of the town last week, following his hat-trick against Somerset, registering a five-wicket haul and helping his team salvage a draw.In one of the wildest cricketing moments, the bowler replicated the feat within the span of a week and ripped through Essex to pick up yet another hat-trick, joining the great Wasim Akram in a rare list on the morning of September 3.Watch- Henry Crocombe picks two hat-tricks in two weeksIn the last week of August, when Sussex faced Somerset during the County Championship Division One match in Hove, Crocombe got rid of the well-set Craig Overton on 54, and backed it up by running through the tail of Migael Pretorius and Jack Leach. This dismantled Somerset for 202, and Sussex eventually took a first-innings lead before the draw.Rothesay County Championship @CountyChamp HENRY CROCOMBE HAS TAKEN A HAT-TRICK FOR SUSSEX!!! Aug 27, 2026, 8:22 PM On Thursday morning, in Day 2's first session, the right-arm quick again grabbed all the headlines in the County Championship. He crushed the Essex bowling line-up with yet another hat-trick.This time, he dismissed South African spinner Simon Harmer for 2(4), trapping him LBW. Then he sent Zaman Akhter and Shane Snater packing for golden ducks, completing this special feat of two hat-tricks within a week.Thanks to his hat-trick, Essex were bowled out for 177, and Sussex took a 98-run first-innings lead.Rothesay County Championship @CountyChamp HENRY CROCOMBE HAS TAKEN A HAT-TRICK FOR A SECOND MATCH IN A ROW! Rothesay County Championship @CountyChamp Henry Crocombe has taken his SECOND Sussex hat-trick in the space of ONE WEEK Sep 3, 2026, 9:04 PM Bowlers to take hat-tricks in consecutive FC matches: George Freeman - 1868Joginder Rao - 1963Mike Procter - 1979Dean Headley - 1996Wasim Akram - 1999Deepak Dhapola - 2024Henry Crocombe - 2026Henry Crocombe is knocking on England’s doorsThe Sussex Academy product, Henry Crocombe, is currently having a dream season in Division One of the County Championship 2026. He is Sussex’s leading wicket-taker with 43 scalps in 16 innings of the first 11 matches. He has picked wickets at an average of under 23, as the Club finds itself 4th on the table with 124 points.With this, Crocombe has improved his FC numbers, which read 118 wickets in 79 innings of 50 matches, and is knocking on the England selection doors.Earlier in the ongoing season, he was roped in as a backup to Ollie Robinson in the England team during the New Zealand tour of England. It was the maiden call-up for the 24-year-old, but it was evidence enough to make out that the bowler is making his performances do the talking.Will County Championship performances help Henry Crocombe to play for England?Going by the results of the ongoing Pakistan tour of England, the current bowling lineup, even after Ben Stokes’ retirement and the ongoing Brydon Carse controversy, looks brilliant.Ollie Robinson, who returned to the national team after a few years out, is making a statement on his comeback, while Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson are constantly around the group in Tests.While there are some players like Sonny Parker and Sam Cook ahead of Crocombe in the pecking order, a call-up was a massive cue for the bowler to keep up the good work. The management is keeping tabs on County Cricket, and Emilio Gay, alongside Ollie Robinsons’ call-ups to the team, prove it.In a nutshell, it is not easy to break into the England Test bowling setup right now, but at 24, Henry Crocombe has time on his hands to do it in the future. He will need a couple of such seasons if he wants to play for England.Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Miss Duleep Trophy Final? Gautam Gambhir To Take Tough Call