In cricket, a “duck” refers to a batter being dismissed without scoring any runs in an innings. A “golden duck” is unique among ducks because it signifies getting out on the first ball faced. The term is believed to have drawn inspiration from the Olympic tradition of awarding gold to the top performer. Here’s a deeper look at the various types of “ducks” in cricket and the players with some notable records.
Types of Ducks in Cricket
Beyond the golden duck, there are several other types of ducks in cricket:
- Silver Duck – When a batter is dismissed on the second ball they face.
- Bronze Duck – When a batter is dismissed on the third ball faced.
- Diamond Duck – When a batter is dismissed without facing a legal delivery, often due to a run-out or time-out.
- Royal Duck – When an opening batsman is dismissed on their very first ball.
- Laughing Duck – When a batter is dismissed on the very last ball of an innings.
- Pair – When a batter is dismissed on zero in both innings of a Test match.
- King Pair – When a batter is dismissed on a golden duck in both innings of a Test match.
Most Golden Ducks in Cricket: Tests & ODIs
While golden ducks are somewhat common in T20s due to the game’s fast pace, they are surprising in Test and ODI formats, where players often have more time to settle in. However, some top bowlers and lower-order batters have tallied an unexpected number of golden ducks in cricket in these longer formats.
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Golden Ducks in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Ducks | Golden Ducks | Golden Duck % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 133 | 33 | 14 | 8.54% |
| 2 | Rangana Herath | Sri Lanka | 93 | 23 | 11 | 7.64% |
| 3 | Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 132 | 43 | 10 | 5.41% |
| 4 | Stuart Broad | England | 167 | 39 | 10 | 4.12% |
| 5 | James Anderson | England | 188 | 34 | 9 | 3.4% |
Leading the list is Sri Lanka’s bowling maestro, Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been out on the very first ball 14 times in his 133-Test career. Known more for his bowling (with 800 Test wickets), Muralitharan often struggled with the bat, though he did manage a fifty in his Test career. Following him is another Sri Lankan spinner, Rangana Herath, who ended his career with 11 golden ducks despite playing fewer Tests.
Courtney Walsh, the iconic West Indian bowler, previously held the record for the most golden ducks until 2017, with 10 golden ducks across 132 matches. Completing the top five are England’s renowned pacers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, both contributing significantly with the ball while tallying 10 and nine golden ducks, respectively. Interestingly, Broad has also scored a century and 13 half-centuries in his Test career, improving his batting over time.
Golden Ducks in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Ducks | Golden Ducks | Golden Duck % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 226 | 26 | 13 | 10.92% |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 30 | 12 | 3.25% |
| 3 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 356 | 28 | 10 | 3.57% |
| 4 | Moin Khan | Pakistan | 219 | 17 | 10 | 5.46% |
| 5 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 445 | 34 | 9 | 2.08% |
Leading the golden ducks in ODI cricket is Sri Lanka’s “Yorker King,” Lasith Malinga, with 13 golden ducks in his 226 ODI appearances. While he dominated with his toe-crushing yorkers, Malinga’s batting often fell short, with 26 ducks in total.
Pakistan’s aggressive all-rounder Shahid Afridi ranks second, with 12 golden ducks across his 398-match ODI career. Known for his explosive playing style, Afridi was prone to quick dismissals as well, despite tallying six centuries and 39 half-centuries in ODIs.
In third place is Wasim Akram, another Pakistani legend and one of the game’s finest swing bowlers. Despite his prowess with the ball, Akram registered 10 golden ducks during his 356-match ODI career. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan and Sri Lanka’s hard-hitting opener Sanath Jayasuriya also make the list, with Moin known for his lower middle-order stability and Jayasuriya recognized for his aggressive opening approach.
Golden Ducks on Debut: Indian Players
Some of India’s cricket stars have made a less-than-ideal debut by scoring a golden duck in their very first game. Among them are players like KL Rahul, and Prithvi Shaw, and legends like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina. Historically, older Indian players such as Avishkar Salvi, Lalchand Rajput, and Yograj Singh also share this record of being dismissed on their first ball in international cricket.
Virat Kohli’s Golden Ducks in the IPL
Even the legendary Virat Kohli has not escaped the fate of the golden duck. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli has registered six golden ducks, three of which occurred in the 2022 season alone. Despite his skill, his streak of golden ducks has drawn attention, with analysts noting his vulnerability to various types of bowlers.
Cricket’s long history has given rise to terms that carry unique meanings. The term “duck” itself originated from an instance where a newspaper likened a batsman’s score of zero to a “duck’s egg” in a report. Cricket terminology continues to reflect the sport’s rich, storied history, with “duck” serving as one of its most iconic terms.
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