Highly rated county pacer takes hat-tricks in successive County Championship matches
**Double Hat-Trick Hero Crocombe Announces Himself as England's Next Big Pacer** 🏏 What a day at Chelmsford! Sussex young gun Henry Crocombe has done something truly special, taking his **second hat-trick in two consecutive County Championship games** against Essex today. Let me break down the magic: Essex crumbled under pressure, losing their last seven wickets in just 4.1 overs. Crocombe struck with deadly precision—Simon Harmer planked a straight delivery off his pad, then near-identical balls caught Zaman Akhter and Shane Snater (who thud-ed straight into leg stump, sending Crocombe sprinting off with arms wide). He wrapped it up with a **brave 5-for**, figures of **5-3-9**, all five wickets crashing down within just 14 deliveries. And this wasn't a fluke. Just last week, Crocombe bagged a hat-trick against Somerset too. According to statistician Andrew Samson, only **seven bowlers have ever pulled off successive hat-tricks in first-class cricket**—so Crocombe now sits in an exclusive club. Here's the tasty bit for the season ahead: this breakthrough summer earned him a call-up to England's squad as injury cover for teammate Ollie Robinson. But heads up, Sussex fans—he's **heading to Surrey** at season's end amid the county's financial strain. Surrey, though, are fighting relegation, so it's an interesting move for both parties. What a talent. Keep an eye on this one—he's just getting started. 🌟 *What do you think, folks? Is Crocombe England Test material already?* Source: Wisden
