Pathan creates history

India's Irfan Pathan has today become the first player in Test cricket history to collect a hat-trick in the opening over of a match.

In a Test series against Pakistan on foreign soil that has so far comfortably favoured the batsmen, the momentous occasion came as a refreshing delight for avid cricket followers.

The left-hand quick sent shivers down the spine of his victims as he collected wickets on the fourth, fifth and sixth balls of the first over.

Salman Butt and Younis Khan were the first two casualties, before Mohammad Yousuf was bowled by a superb in-swinger for the memorable hat-trick.

The 21-year-old becomes only the second Indian in history to take a hat-trick, emulating Harbhajan Singh, who took the first against Australia in the second Test of the 2001 series.

Pathan's name is added to number 36 on the prestigious list of bowlers to have taken a Test hat-trick - the first addition in 15 months following James Franklin's hat-trick against Bangladesh in October 2004.

The Indian's hat-trick, which included a catch, lbw and bowled, is only the fourth to include three different dismissals, while it is the fifth time Pakistan have been on the receiving end - the second time on home soil.

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