Types of Duck in Cricket Explained: Golden, Silver, Diamond and More
Every type of duck in cricket explained — a golden duck (first ball dismissal), diamond duck (runout without facing), silver duck (second ball dismissal), pair (two ducks in one Test match), and why ducks matter statistically to a batting average.
A duck in cricket means a batsman is dismissed without scoring any runs — their score is 0. The name comes from the visual similarity between the number 0 and a duck egg ('duck's egg' was shortened to 'duck'). Ducks are one of cricket's most humbling moments: a batsman who has practised for years being dismissed first ball for zero, in front of thousands of spectators, is one of cricket's defining dramatic events. Different types of duck have different names depending on the circumstances of the dismissal.
Golden Duck
A golden duck is when a batsman is dismissed for 0 runs on the very first ball they face. It is the most ignominious form of duck — the batsman did not even have the chance to settle or play themselves in. Golden ducks are particularly significant for tail-enders (numbers 8–11) who regularly face fast bowlers with the express purpose of removing them quickly, but a golden duck for a top-order batsman (especially a number 3 or 4) is a devastating blow to their team. The phrase 'golden duck' reflects the specific circumstance: the 'golden' indicates first ball.
Diamond Duck and Silver Duck
A diamond duck is when a batsman is dismissed without facing a single ball — the most common route is a run-out where the batsman arrives at the crease but is immediately run out as a result of a partner's call or mix-up before they have faced a delivery. A silver duck is when a batsman is dismissed on the second ball they face for 0 runs (they faced 1 ball, did not score, then were dismissed on the second ball — having faced 2 balls in total). The silver duck is rarer as a named type: in practice, cricket statisticians track golden duck (first ball) and duck (0 runs, any balls faced) more commonly than silver duck as a named category.
How Ducks Affect Batting Average
A duck that results in a dismissal (not a not-out duck) directly decreases a batsman's average: average = total runs ÷ dismissals. A golden duck adds 0 to the runs total but adds 1 to the dismissals count — the denominator goes up while the numerator stays flat, which decreases the average. For a batsman with an average of 50 from 100 dismissals (5,000 runs), one golden duck (5,000 ÷ 101 = 49.50 average) moves the average by 0.50 — significant over a career with multiple ducks. The most ducks in Test career history is held by Courtney Walsh (43 ducks from 185 innings), reflecting his status as a number 11 batsman who faced thousands of deliveries.
Frequently asked questions
What is a golden duck in cricket?
A dismissal for 0 runs on the first ball faced. The batsman arrives at the crease, faces one delivery, and is dismissed without scoring. 'Golden duck' is one of cricket's most famous terms — it is distinct from a regular duck (0 runs, any number of balls faced) because it occurs on the very first ball the batsman faces.
What is a pair in Test cricket?
A pair is when a batsman scores 0 in both innings of the same Test match — two ducks in the same game. A 'king pair' is when both ducks are golden ducks (dismissed first ball in both innings). Pairs are more common than king pairs; king pairs are rare across all levels and especially so for top-order international batsmen.
Why is a duck called a duck?
The term comes from 'duck's egg' — a reference to the visual similarity between the number 0 and a duck egg (oval, rounded shape). 'Duck's egg' was the original Victorian-era term for a score of zero; it was shortened over time to 'duck.' The phrase is entirely British in origin — other cultures use different zero-score terms (the French use 'zéro' in tennis, but cricket's 'duck' is specifically English cricket slang.