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Why is three goals called a hat-trick?

cricket-cap.jpgQuestion

What is a hat-trick and why is it three things – three goals, three wins etc?
Jacqui, Thames Ditton

Answer

Name: James O’Brien
Qualification: Regular scorer of hat-tricks
Answer: It originates from cricket. In past times, when a cricketer took three wickets with consecutive balls, he passed his cap around the crowd to get a congratulatory collection. Hence the term hat-trick.

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