Leicester Mercury sports sub Martin Crowson bowled himself towards legendary status when he took a hat-trick with the first three balls of a game.

Martin was playing for Leicester Ivanhoe against Kibworth in the Leicestershire Everards League Premier Division - a high-standard league which has several pros.

The Kibworth opener pulled the first ball - "a rank long hop" - to square leg and the next two batsmen nicked to the wicket-keeper.

It is believed it is the first time it has been done in England. Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas achieved the feat against Canada in the World Cup last year.

But it will not get Martin into the bible of the cricketing world, Wisden.

"We only keep records of first class cricket, and I know it has never been done in the first-class game in this country," said a Wisden spokesman.

"But we do not keep records on non-first class cricket so I can't really say whether it has been done before."

Record or not, it's an amazing achievement for Martin, and his colleagues at the Mercury are exceptionally proud of him.

Requests for interviews/signing sessions/ public appearances with the cricketing superstar should now be made through his agent ...