Gus Atkinson Claims Hat-Trick in England's Victory

Gus Atkinson achieved a remarkable Test hat-trick during the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, becoming the 14th Englishman to do so and the first since Moeen Ali in 2017. He dismissed Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee with three consecutive deliveries, contributing to England's commanding position with a 533-run lead. Atkinson, who has only 10 Test caps to his name, has already made a significant impact in his short career, including a five-wicket haul on debut and a century against Sri Lanka. Reflecting on his success, he expressed a desire for more achievements, stating, "You always want to get more and be greedy." His hat-trick is also noted as the 50th in Test cricket history. Despite this milestone, Atkinson regards his maiden century as his proudest achievement to date.