A golden duck in cricket occurs when a batter is dismissed on the very first ball they face. This term is thought to have originated from the Olympic tradition of awarding gold medals to the athlete who comes in first place.
Understanding Ducks in Cricket
In cricket, a duck means a batter gets out without scoring any runs in an innings. A duck specifically refers to getting out on the first ball. The concept of a “duck” itself has historical roots, coming from a description of a player’s score as a “duck’s egg,” indicating zero runs.
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Types of Ducks in Cricket
Besides the well-known duck, there are six other types of ducks in cricket:
- Silver Duck: Getting out on the second delivery of an innings.
- Bronze Duck: Getting out on the third delivery.
- Diamond Duck: Getting out without facing a legal delivery, often due to a run-out or time-out.
- Royal Duck: When an opening batter gets out on a golden duck.
- Laughing Duck: When a batter is dismissed on the last ball of an innings.
- Pair and King Pair: A pair is when a batter scores zero in both innings of a Test match. A king pair occurs when a batter gets a golden duck in both innings.
Most Golden Ducks in Test and ODI Cricket
While it’s common to get a golden duck in T20 matches due to the limited number of balls, the number of golden ducks in longer formats like Tests and ODIs is surprising. Although ODIs can be tense, allowing lower-order batsmen to struggle under pressure, Test cricket usually provides more time for players to settle in. Here are some notable players with the most golden ducks in each format.
Most Golden Ducks in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Total Ducks | Golden Ducks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3.40% |
Muttiah Muralitharan, a legendary Sri Lankan bowler, has the highest number of golden ducks in Test cricket, with 14 dismissals on the first ball. He played 133 Tests and was not known for his batting skills. Rangana Herath follows him closely with 11 ducks, while Courtney Walsh ranks third with 10.
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Most G Ducks in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Total Ducks | Golden Ducks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Lasith Malinga leads the ODI g ducks list with 13 dismissals on the first ball out of 226 matches. Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram follow closely, with Afridi having 12 golden ducks and Akram with 10.
Indian Players with Golden Ducks on Debut
Many Indian players have faced the unfortunate situation of getting a golden duck in their first international match. Notable names include current stars like KL Rahul and Prithvi Shaw, as well as former World Cup winners like Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. Even Virat Kohli has experienced six golden ducks in his IPL career, three of which occurred during the 2022 season.
Conclusion
Cricket, with its long history, has many unique terms like “duck” that add to the game’s charm. Understanding these terms can enhance the viewing experience and appreciation of the sport. Whether it’s a golden duck or other types, every dismissal tells a story in the world of cricket.
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