Golden Duck in Cricket — What It Is and Other Duck Types Explained
A duck in cricket is a score of zero. A golden duck is out for zero off the very first delivery. Learn the full family of duck types — silver, diamond, platinum — and why a duck in Test cricket is one of the game's most painful moments.
In cricket, a duck refers to a batter being dismissed for zero runs. The term originates from 'duck's egg' — the oval shape of a zero on a scorecard resembles a duck's egg. A duck is one of cricket's most deflating moments for a batter: all the preparation and the walk to the crease produces nothing.
Types of ducks
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Duck | Dismissed for 0 (any number of balls faced) |
| Golden duck | Dismissed for 0 off the very first ball faced |
| Silver duck | Dismissed for 0 off the second ball faced |
| Diamond duck | Dismissed for 0 without facing a ball (run out from the non-striker's end, or obstructed field, etc.) |
| Platinum duck | First ball of the match, first batter dismissed for 0 off ball 1 — opening batter golden duck on delivery 1 of the innings |
Why a duck matters in Test cricket
In Test cricket, a duck is particularly significant because each innings is finite and every run counts toward winning, losing, or drawing. A top-order duck means a batter who faced 0 balls has contributed nothing to the innings — and the bowler has achieved the maximum possible return from the encounter. A series of ducks for a top-order batter puts them under severe selection pressure. In limited-overs cricket, a duck at the top of the order early in a powerplay is damaging but recoverable; a duck at number 3 chasing in the final over is catastrophic.
Duck in scorecard notation
On a traditional scorecard, a duck is recorded as '0' in the runs column. The symbol '0*' (zero not out) indicates a batter who was present at the crease at the end of an innings without scoring — this is not a duck because they were not dismissed. A batter can retire on 0 (retired hurt) without it being scored as a duck, since they were not dismissed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a duck in cricket?
A duck in cricket is when a batter is dismissed without scoring any runs — a score of zero. The term comes from 'duck's egg', referring to the oval shape of a zero on the scorecard.
What is a golden duck in cricket?
A golden duck is when a batter is dismissed for zero runs off the very first ball they face. It is the most immediate form of dismissal — in, out, no runs scored.
What is a diamond duck in cricket?
A diamond duck is when a batter is dismissed for zero without facing a single ball — for example, being run out from the non-striker's end on a no-ball, or dismissed through obstructing the field or handled the ball before the delivery that their batting innings begins.