Ducks in Cricket: Golden Duck, Silver Duck, Diamond Duck — All Types
A duck in cricket is when a batter is dismissed without scoring any runs. Learn all the types — golden duck, silver duck, diamond duck — which players have the most ducks in history, and why ducks are so costly in Test cricket.
A 'duck' in cricket is when a batter is dismissed for zero runs. The term comes from the shape of the number 0 resembling a duck's egg. In the scorebook, a zero score is traditionally recorded as '0', but the term 'duck' became part of cricket's vocabulary in the late 19th century.
Types of Duck
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Duck | Dismissed for 0 runs (after facing at least one ball) |
| Golden duck | Dismissed for 0 off the very first ball they face |
| Silver duck | Dismissed for 0 off the second ball they face |
| Diamond duck | Run out without facing a single ball (rarest type) |
| Royal duck | Dismissed for 0 off the first ball — used as synonym for golden duck |
| Pair | Scoring a duck in both innings of a Test match |
| King pair | Golden duck in both innings of a Test match — rarest of all |
Why Ducks Matter in Test Cricket
In T20 cricket, a duck from a number 7 or lower-order batter has limited impact on the total. In Test cricket, a duck from a specialist batter is much more damaging — it costs the team the build-up runs from a potentially long innings. When top-order batters score ducks in both innings (a pair), it can cost a team a Test match entirely.
The Psychological Impact of a Golden Duck
A golden duck — dismissed off the first ball — is particularly damaging. The batter has had no time to 'settle', assess conditions, or build a partnership. For openers, a golden duck often means a collapse: the number 3 must face the new ball immediately with no runs on the board. Golden ducks in the first over of a test match can set off a catastrophic collapse.
Famous Ducks in Cricket History
Don Bradman's final Test innings ended in a duck — needing 4 to finish with a Test average of exactly 100, he was dismissed for 0 by Eric Hollies at The Oval in 1948. His final average of 99.94 is legendary partly because of that last-ball zero. In 1999, Nasser Hussain famously followed on his 207 in the first innings with a duck in the second, in the same Test.
Frequently asked questions
What is a duck in cricket?
A duck is when a batter is dismissed without scoring any runs. The term comes from the shape of a zero resembling a duck's egg. There are several types: golden duck (dismissed first ball), silver duck (dismissed second ball), and diamond duck (run out without facing a ball).
What is a golden duck in cricket?
A golden duck is when a batter is dismissed off the very first ball they face, scoring zero runs. It is considered the most embarrassing individual batting outcome.
What is a pair in cricket?
A pair occurs when a batter scores a duck in both innings of a Test match. A 'king pair' is when a batter scores a golden duck (dismissed off the first ball) in both innings — the rarest and most unfortunate batting outcome.