A Pair in Cricket: Scoring Zero in Both Innings
Scoring a pair in cricket means a batter is dismissed for zero in both innings of a two-innings match. Learn what constitutes a pair, its variants, and famous pairs in Test cricket history.
What Is a Pair in Cricket?
A pair in cricket is when a batter is dismissed for zero (a duck) in both innings of a two-innings match — typically a Test or first-class game. The term comes from the idea of 'a pair of ducks' (two zeros). A pair is considered one of the most embarrassing statistical outcomes for a specialist batter.
Types of Pair
- Standard pair: dismissed for zero in both innings after facing deliveries
- King pair (or imperial pair): dismissed for a golden duck (first ball) in both innings
- Platinum king pair: run out without facing a ball in both innings (extremely rare)
Historical Pairs
Several great players have scored Test pairs under extreme pressure. Shane Warne scored a pair in an Ashes Test in 2001. Brian Lara also experienced a pair in his career. For lower-order batters, pairs are more statistically expected — fast bowlers regularly score ducks and occasionally pairs.
Pair vs King Pair
A standard pair requires two ducks (any dismissal with zero score). A king pair specifically requires golden ducks in both innings — being dismissed on the very first ball in each innings. A king pair is the most emphatic possible failure across two innings and is extremely rare among specialist batters.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pair ruin a batter's average significantly?
Yes. Two zeros from two dismissed innings add two dismissals and zero runs to the batter's career figures. For a batter averaging 40, two zeroes reduce the average more than almost any other single-match outcome.
Has any batter ever scored a pair in a century-making career?
Yes. Many century-scorers have also scored Test pairs. No great batter avoids a poor match entirely across a long career. Even players with averages above 50 have occasionally scored pairs.