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Ducks are more common than you might think, even in international cricket. Legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Virat Kohli have all fallen prey to ducks during their illustrious careers.
Different Types of Ducks in Cricket
Cricket gets creative with its terminology, and ducks are no exception. Here’s a breakdown of the various types of ducks in cricket and what makes each one unique:
| Type of Duck | Description |
| Regular Duck | Dismissed for zero but not on the first ball. |
| Golden Duck | Out on the very first ball faced. |
| Silver Duck | Dismissed on the second ball faced without scoring. |
| Bronze Duck | Dismissed on the third ball faced without scoring. |
| Diamond Duck | Dismissed without facing a legal delivery (e.g., run out). |
| Royal Duck | First batter of the innings dismissed for zero. |
| Laughing Duck | Last batter of the innings dismissed for zero. |
| Golden Goose | Multiple golden ducks by a batter or team in a match or series. |
Regular Duck
A regular duck is simply when a batter is dismissed for zero but not on their first ball. It’s the most straightforward type of duck and probably the least embarrassing.
Golden Duck
A golden duck occurs when a batter is dismissed on the very first ball they face. It’s every batter’s nightmare and often leads to some teasing from teammates. Imagine walking out to bat, taking guard, and heading back to the pavilion - all in the blink of an eye!
Silver Duck
The slightly less painful silver duck happens when a batter gets out on the second ball faced without scoring. It’s still a duck, but at least they had a chance to see one delivery.
Bronze Duck
The bronze duck is for those who face three balls and still walk away with a score of zero. While it’s rare to hear this term used in commentary, it’s part of cricket’s quirky vocabulary.
Diamond Duck
The diamond duck is one of the rarest forms. This happens when a batter gets dismissed without facing a legal delivery like being run out or obstructing the field before they even get a chance to play a ball.
Royal Duck
This is when the first batter of the innings gets out for zero. Starting an innings with a royal duck can set a pretty grim tone for the team.
Laughing Duck
The laughing duck refers to the last batter in an innings getting out for zero. The term might sound funny, but it’s no laughing matter for the player or their team.
Golden Goose
Not technically a type of duck but worth mentioning, the golden goose refers to a situation where a batter (or team) scores multiple golden ducks in a single game or series. It’s the stuff of nightmares for cricket fans.
Fun Facts and Anecdotes About Cricket Ducks
- Fastest Duck in Cricket: Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for one of the fastest ducks in ODI cricket, dismissed on the very first ball of a match against Pakistan in 2003.
- Muttiah Muralitharan’s Record: The legendary Sri Lankan bowler has the most ducks in international cricket - 59 times across all formats!
- Longest Streak Without a Duck: Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid, known as "The Wall," played 120 consecutive innings in Test cricket without scoring a duck.
- Ducks in a Single Match: In 2011, Australia’s top three batters Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, and Ricky Ponting were all dismissed for ducks in the same innings against South Africa.
- Golden Ducks in Finals: Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of the rising stars of Indian cricket, once got out for a golden duck during a high-pressure IPL final, proving that even the best players can have tough days.
