Sussex's Crocombe takes second hat-trick in eight days

Henry Crocombe is delivering some of the most historic performances of his career for Sussex while preparing to join their rivals, Surrey, at the end of the season. The 24-year-old seamer achieved one of the rarest feats in first-class cricket on Thursday, claiming his second hat-trick in eight days during a Division One clash against Essex at Chelmsford.

According to statistician Andrew Samson, taking hat-tricks in successive matches has occurred only seven times in the history of first-class cricket. The achievement comes as Sussex fights valiantly this year in the face of financial penalties, and they are among a pack of four teams – also including Essex – hovering just above the relegation zone.

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The match shifted violently on the second day. Essex had progressed serenely after tea, reaching three figures for two wickets down in 32 overs. Charlie Allison had looked dominant, reaching 56 with eight boundaries before Crocombe trapped him lbw, exposing a fragile batting lineup.

What followed was a collapse of seven wickets for six runs in 26 balls. The carnage peaked in Crocombe's ninth over, where he pinned Simon Harmer and Zaman Akhter lbw with the first two deliveries before bowling Shane Snater to complete the hat-trick. Crocombe finished the innings with figures of 5-39, taking five wickets in 14 deliveries without conceding a run. Essex were reduced from 171-3 to 177 all out.

Crocombe's run of form is unprecedented in Sussex history. The club had gone 25 years between County Championship hat-tricks, since Jason Lewry achieved the feat back in 2001. Sussex officials confirmed that Tony Buss, in 1965, was previously the only man to take two hat-tricks in the same season for the club; however, Crocombe's back-to-back matches and the Championship double are both firsts for Sussex.

The timing of Crocombe's ascent creates a strange dynamic for both the player and the clubs involved. While he helps Sussex fight a relegation battle, his future employers at Surrey are embroiled in a similar struggle. In a separate fixture at the Oval, Surrey were bowled out for 83 by Yorkshire before responding by bowling Yorkshire out for 82, leaving Surrey in a precarious position just above the relegation zone.

Sussex's struggle for depth was evident in the same match against Essex. The club was forced to re-sign South African seamer Ari Karvelas on a short-term contract to cover injuries and England call-ups. Karvelas, who had been released by the club and was working as an academy coach, returned to first-class cricket for the first time in a year to help Sussex secure a batting point and a first-innings lead of 98.

Crocombe's trajectory has now moved beyond the county circuit. Having been briefly added to England's squad for June's second Test against New Zealand, when Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped for disciplinary reasons, the England Lions seamer is now viewed as central to England's plans in the coming months.

The immediate consequence of this form will be official on Friday, when Crocombe will be named in Brendon McCullum's ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka later this month.

Historic milestones and the road to Surrey

The scale of Crocombe's achievement is highlighted by the scarcity of such form in the professional game. While a player has taken two hat-tricks in a single match eight times, the feat of achieving them in successive matches has occurred only seven times in the history of first-class cricket, according to statistician Andrew Samson.

Crocombe's first hat-trick came during a damp draw against Somerset at Hove last week, where he removed the visitors' tail. The second, against Essex, was his third five-wicket haul of the season.

The performance at Chelmsford was a reversal of fortune for the seamer, who according to The Argus had suffered a torrid time against Essex in the Vitality Blast earlier this season. In this instance, he finished with figures of 5-39 in 9.5 overs, including the dismissal of No. 11 Jamie Porter, who was one of four ducks in the Essex innings.

The wider impact on the match was profound. After Sussex posted 275—aided by Ari Karvelas' 38—Essex were reduced from 171-3 to 177 all out. This handed Sussex a first-innings lead of 98, which they extended to 188 by the end of the second day, reaching 90-4 in their second innings. In a contrasting struggle at the Oval, The Guardian reported a day where 23 wickets fell as Surrey were skittled for 83 before bowling Yorkshire out for 82.