What Is A Golden Duck In Cricket? A Comprehensive Guide

In cricket, a “duck” happens when a batter gets out without scoring a single run. A “golden duck” is a step further—it occurs when a batter gets dismissed on the very first ball they face in their innings.

The India and Australia cricket teams were playing a 2nd Test match in Adelaide. Right at the start, an Australian player, Mitchell Starc, bowled the first ball and got the Indian player Yashasvi Jaiswal out! Starc was excited and celebrated loudly because they had argued during a previous match. This dismissal was not the golden duck. Find out which type of duck Yasahavi Jaiswal got out: 

Different Types of Ducks in Cricket

Cricket has several types of ducks. Each type refers to a batter getting out without scoring. Here are the main types:

1. Golden Duck: A dismissal on the very first ball of the batter’s innings.
2. Silver Duck: Getting out on the second ball faced, without scoring.
3. Bronze Duck: Being dismissed on the third ball faced, without scoring.
4. Diamond Duck: This happens when a batter is dismissed without facing any legal ball. It often occurs due to a run-out or time-out (if a new batter isn’t ready within three minutes).
5. Royal Duck: When an opening batter gets out on the first ball of the team’s innings.
6. Laughing Duck: A batter dismissed for zero at the very end of their team’s innings.
7. Pair: A batter getting out for zero in both innings of a Test match or first-class game.
8. King Pair: When a batter is dismissed for zero on the first ball they face in both innings of a Test match.

Also Read: The Different Types Of Ducks In Cricket

Players With the Most Golden Ducks in Cricket

Some cricket players have been dismissed for golden ducks more often than others:

Test Cricket: Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record with 14 golden ducks.

ODIs: Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi holds this record with 30 golden ducks to his name.

T20 Internationals: Zappy Bimenyimana is a cricketer who has been out 14 times in a T20i match. This is the most time anyone has gotten a golden duck in a match. Two other cricketers, Kevin Irakoze and Soumya Sarkar, have also gotten a golden duck 13 times.

Indian T20 League: The record of golden ducks in IPL is tied by 2 players, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik; both players have been out on golden ducks 18 times. Below them is Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who has 17 golden ducks.

Cricket’s unique terms and records, like golden ducks, add to the game’s charm and history, making it fascinating for fans worldwide.