Ducks In Cricket Meaning
In cricket, a “duck” refers to the situation where a batsman is dismissed without scoring any runs. It means the batsman is out for a score of zero. When a batsman gets out on the first ball they face, it is called a “golden duck.” Similarly, if a batsman gets out on the second ball, it is called a “silver duck,” and if they get out on the third ball, it is called a “bronze duck.” However, regardless of the number of balls faced, if a batsman is dismissed without scoring any runs, it is considered a duck.
Getting a duck is generally considered an undesirable outcome for a batsman as it means they were unable to contribute any runs to their team’s total. However, ducks are a common occurrence in cricket, and even the best batsmen experience them occasionally.
Thank you for the clarification. When it comes to batsmen being dismissed for zero runs, there have been several cricketers who have experienced this outcome multiple times in their careers. However, it’s impoārtant to note that getting dismissed for a duck doesn’t necessarily reflect a player’s overall skill or ability as a cricketer, as even the best players occasionally have low-scoring innings.

One notable cricketer who has had a significant number of ducks in his career is Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya. While Jayasuriya was an exceptional all-rounder and one of the most explosive batsmen of his time, he also holds the record for the most ducks in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He was dismissed for a duck on 34 occasions in his ODI career.
Another cricketer with a notable number of ducks is former Australian batsman Glenn McGrath. While primarily known for his bowling prowess as a fast bowler, McGrath holds the record for the most ducks by a non-specialist batsman in Test cricket, being dismissed for zero 35 times in his Test career.
It’s important to remember that the number of ducks a player has doesn’t solely define their overall performance or impact in the game. Cricket is a complex sport with many variables, and a batsman’s contribution extends beyond just their score in a particular innings.
Here are the names of ten cricketers who have been dismissed for zero runs (duck) on multiple occasions in international cricket:
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 34 ducks in ODIs
- Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 30 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 25 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 24 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 24 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 24 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 23 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) – 23 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Harbhajan Singh (India) – 22 ducks in Tests and ODIs
- Anil Kumble (India) – 20 ducks in Tests and ODIs
Please note that these figures are based on the available data up until my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. The numbers might have changed since then due to players’ performances in recent matches.
Most duck of bowlers in cricket
In cricket, while bowlers primarily contribute with their bowling skills, they also have a batting role. It’s common for bowlers to have a higher number of ducks compared to specialist batsmen. However, specific records for ducks by bowlers are not as widely tracked as those of batsmen.
That being said, one notable bowler who has recorded a significant number of ducks in international cricket is the former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath. Known for his exceptional bowling skills, McGrath was dismissed for a duck a total of 35 times in Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs) combined.
It’s important to remember that a bowler’s primary focus is on their bowling performance, and their batting contributions are generally secondary. Therefore, while a bowler may have a high number of ducks, it doesn’t necessarily impact their overall effectiveness or reputation as a player.
Most duck of batsman in cricket
The record for the most number of ducks by a batsman in international cricket (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is combined) is held by former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya was a dynamic left-handed batsman known for his aggressive batting style, but he also holds the record for the most ducks in international cricket. He was dismissed for a duck on 56 occasions across all three formats of the game.
It’s important to note that the number of ducks a batsman has doesn’t solely define their overall performance or ability as a cricketer. Cricket is a complex sport with various factors that contribute to a player’s success, and even the best batsmen experience low-scoring innings from time to time.