Jack Hearne's Headingley Hat-Trick — England's First v Australia, 1899

Hearne had already played 11 Tests across the 1891-92 South Africa tour, the 1894-95 Australia tour and at home against Australia in 1896. The 1899 Headingley Test was his eleventh.

Australia 39/0 overnight on a true Headingley pitch. Hearne and Hirst opened the new-ball spell on day two.

Jack Hearne — known as 'JT', cousin of the Hearne brothers who played Test cricket separately — was the leading English medium-pacer of the late 1890s. He had taken nine for 30 against Yorkshire at Lord's in 1894 and over 200 first-class wickets in 1896 and 1898. The 1899 series had brought him into the Test side at age 32.

The Third Test, the first at Headingley, opened on 29 June 1899. Australia, captained by Joe Darling, had won the toss and were 39 for 0 at the close of the first day. Hearne was given the new ball with George Hirst on the second morning. He removed Joe Darling for 8 in his first over; in his second over he took the most famous trio of his career.

Ball one: Clem Hill caught at slip for 0. Ball two: Syd Gregory caught behind for 0 (the wicketkeeper Lilley took an inside edge). Ball three: Monty Noble bowled middle stump for 0. Hat-trick — England's first against Australia, and Hearne's only Test hat-trick. Australia 56 for 4; they recovered to 172 thanks to a Trumble 56.

The Test that followed turned tragic. Briggs, having bowled long spells across the day, suffered an epileptic fit overnight at the team hotel and was hospitalised. Australia made 224 in the second innings; England chased 176, fell to 19 for 4, and were rescued only by rain on the third afternoon. The match was drawn.

“He took the very best of Australia in three balls and never bowled a finer over in his life.”

Hearne played another four Tests across the 1899 and 1903-04 series. He played first-class cricket until 1923 and finished with 3,061 first-class wickets — the fourth-highest in cricket history. He died in 1944 at his Buckinghamshire home, aged 76.