On this day: Damien Fleming takes a hat-trick on his Test debut

A hat trick is still one of the rarest accomplishments in the game of cricket, and with the game becoming increasingly biased in favor of batsmen, a hat trick is still a moment of brilliance for the select few bowlers who can pull off the extraordinarily difficult feat of taking three wickets in three consecutive deliveries.

The third cricketer to achieve a hat-trick on his Test debut was Australian quick bowler Damien Fleming, as he achieved the feat on this day, October 9, in the year 1994. It happened during the second Test between Pakistan and Australia on the final day of play at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Before imposing the follow-on, Australia had set a massive score of 521 in their first innings and bowled out Pakistan for 260. The opening duo did Pakistan well before Saleem Malik’s outstanding double-century. When Fleming dismissed Aamer Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Saleem Malik off consecutive deliveries, the Test, which was headed for a draw, gained some excitement.

Damien Fleming made a stunning debut when he claimed a hat trick, just when the national selectors were seeking new blood in Australia’s bowling attack. Fleming eventually became a mainstay in the national team for a sizable amount of time and was particularly regarded for his out-swingers.

Aamer Malik and Inzamam-ul-Haq were both bowled by Fleming off the final two balls of the 23rd over during a dreary final day with the game headed for a draw. Aamer was unable to control the flick and Bevan caught him at midwicket. In his next over, Fleming made a comeback to bowl to Salim Malik, who edged the ball to the wicketkeeper Ian Healy who caught him behind the stumps.

Thus, Fleming became just the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to record a hat-trick on his debut, and his teammate Jo Angel celebrated by lifting him into the air in a rather unique fashion.