A duck in cricket means a batter is dismissed for zero runs. The term comes from the shape of zero, which looks like a duck’s egg. This term has been used since the 1860s.
Cricket has nine different types of ducks. Each type depends on how many balls the batter faced before dismissal. Some ducks also depend on the batter’s position or role in the team.
The classification system helps scorers, commentators, and statisticians describe dismissals accurately.
A golden duck is different from a silver duck because of the balls faced. A royal duck is different from a titanium duck because of who faced the ball.
Commentators use these terms to explain match situations quickly. A diamond duck tells viewers the batter was run out without facing a ball. A laughing duck tells them the last batter failed to score.
Ducks appear in all cricket formats. Test cricket, ODI cricket, and T20 cricket all record ducks the same way. The type of duck remains the same regardless of match length or format.
Types of Ducks in Cricket
Quick Answer:
Types of ducks in cricket classify zero-run dismissals by balls faced: Golden Duck (dismissed first ball), Silver Duck (second ball), Bronze Duck (third ball), and Regular Duck (four or more balls). Rarer types include Diamond Duck (out without facing a legal delivery, typically run out backing up), Titanium Duck (opener dismissed without facing), Royal Duck (opener out on innings’ first ball), and King Pair (golden ducks in both Test innings).
What is a Duck in Cricket?
A duck is a dismissal where the batter scores zero runs. The scorecard shows 0, 0(1), or 0(0) depending on balls faced.
This applies to all forms of dismissal, including bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, and run out.
The number in brackets shows balls faced. A score of 0(1) means one ball was faced. A score of 0(0) means no legal delivery was faced.
A simple 0 without brackets means multiple balls were faced.
Facing balls and getting dismissed are two different things. A batter can face five balls and still get a duck.
Another batter can get dismissed without facing any legal delivery. Both are ducks, but of different types.
Duck dismissals are recorded in Test cricket, ODI cricket, and T20 cricket equally.
The classification does not change based on match format. A golden duck in a Test match is the same as a golden duck in a T20 match.
Top 9 Ways Types Of Duck In Cricket
| Duck Type | Balls Faced | Who It Applies To | How It Happens | Commonality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Duck | 4 or more | Any batter | Dismissed after facing 4+ balls | Very common |
| Golden Duck | 1 | Any batter | Dismissed on first ball faced | Common |
| Silver Duck | 2 | Any batter | Dismissed on second ball faced | Uncommon |
| Bronze Duck | 3 | Any batter | Dismissed on third ball faced | Uncommon |
| Diamond Duck | 0 | Any batter | Run out or stumped off wide without facing legal ball | Rare |
| Titanium Duck | 0 | Opening batter only | Opener dismissed without facing legal ball | Very rare |
| Royal Duck | 1 | Opening batter only | Opener dismissed on first ball of innings | Rare |
| Laughing Duck | Any number | Last batter only | Dismissed as final wicket for zero | Common |
| Golden Goose | 1 | Any batter | First duck of new season on first ball | Very rare |
Types Of Duck In Cricket – Explained
Regular Duck
A regular duck happens when a batter faces four or more balls and gets dismissed for zero. The scorecard shows 0(4), 0(5), or higher. This is the most basic form of duck in cricket.
Any dismissal type qualifies as a regular duck. The batter can be bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, or run out. The only requirement is facing at least four balls without scoring.
Golden Duck
A golden duck occurs when a batter is dismissed on the first ball they face. The scorecard shows 0(1). This applies to any batter at any position in the batting order.
All dismissal types count for a golden duck. MS Dhoni was dismissed for a golden duck on his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004. Lasith Malinga holds the record for most golden ducks in ODI cricket with 13 dismissals.
Silver Duck
A silver duck happens when a batter faces exactly two balls and gets dismissed for zero. The scorecard shows 0(2). This is less common than a golden duck but more common than a bronze duck.
Don Bradman was dismissed for a silver duck in his final Test innings in 1948. He needed four runs to finish with a Test average of 100 but was bowled for zero on the second ball he faced.
Bronze Duck
A bronze duck occurs when a batter faces three balls and is dismissed without scoring. The scorecard shows 0(3). This term is used less frequently in modern cricket commentary.
Rod Marsh, the Australian wicketkeeper, recorded a bronze duck in an ODI at Edgbaston. The bronze duck classification helps differentiate between early dismissals and regular ducks.
Diamond Duck
A diamond duck happens when a batter is dismissed without facing any legal delivery. The scorecard shows 0(0). This usually occurs through run out at the non-striker’s end or stumped off a wide ball.
Joel Garner of the West Indies was dismissed for a diamond duck against England in 1980. The batter reaches the crease but gets out before the bowler delivers a legal ball to them.
Titanium Duck
A titanium duck is a diamond duck that happens to an opening batter. The opener is dismissed without facing a legal delivery. This is one of the rarest duck types in cricket.
Ramiz Raja was dismissed for a titanium duck against England in 1987. Fewer than 20 titanium ducks have been recorded in ODI cricket. Test cricket has even fewer recorded cases.
Royal Duck
A royal duck occurs when an opening batter is dismissed on the first ball of the innings. The scorecard shows 0(1) for the very first ball of the match. This combines the golden duck with opener status.
Sunil Gavaskar was dismissed for a royal duck against New Zealand in 1980. A royal duck means the team loses a wicket on the first ball without scoring any runs.
Laughing Duck
A laughing duck happens when the last batter of an innings is dismissed for zero. The number of balls faced does not matter. The key factor is being the final wicket while scoring zero.
Number 11 batters often get laughing ducks when they fail to score before the innings end. The term is informal but widely used in cricket commentary and scoring.
Golden Goose
A golden goose is a golden duck that occurs on the first ball of a new cricket season. This is not an official statistical category. The term is used as cricket slang among players and fans.
The classification is rare because it requires specific timing. A batter must be dismissed on their first ball, and it must be the first dismissal of the season.
Records on Ducks in Cricket
Most Ducks in Test Cricket
- Courtney Walsh (West Indies) — 43 ducks
- Chris Martin (New Zealand) — 36 ducks
- Glenn McGrath (Australia) — 35 ducks
- James Anderson (England) — 34 ducks
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) — 33 ducks
Most Golden Ducks in ODIs
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) — 13 golden ducks
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) — 11 golden ducks
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) — 10 golden ducks
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) — 10 golden ducks
- Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) — 9 golden ducks
Most Golden Ducks in T20Is
- Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) — 9 golden ducks
- Paul Stirling (Ireland) — 8 golden ducks
- Aaron Finch (Australia) — 8 golden ducks
- Rohit Sharma (India) — 7 golden ducks
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa) — 7 golden ducks
Value of Duck Out Rule in Cricket
Ducks represent batting risk in cricket. Every batter faces the possibility of dismissal without scoring. This risk exists regardless of skill level or experience.
Early dismissals like golden ducks and royal ducks shift the match momentum quickly. One wicket without runs puts pressure on the remaining batters. The team loses a batting resource without gaining any runs.
Ducks have a psychological impact on batters. A golden duck can affect confidence. Multiple ducks in consecutive matches create pressure. Batters work to avoid ducks through better technique and shot selection.
Duck statistics remain recorded because they measure batting consistency. A batter with fewer ducks shows better survival skills. Duck records help analyze batter performance across formats and conditions.
FAQs on Ducks in Cricket
- What is the ducks name in cricket?
A duck means a batter is dismissed for zero runs. The term comes from “duck’s egg” because zero looks like an egg. Different types include golden duck, diamond duck, and royal duck.
- What is a titanium duck in cricket?
A titanium duck happens when an opening batter is dismissed without facing a legal delivery. This is a diamond duck specific to openers. Fewer than 20 cases exist in ODI cricket.
- What are two ducks in cricket called?
Two ducks in consecutive innings are called a pair. Two golden ducks in both innings of a Test match are called a king pair. This means dismissal on the first ball in both innings.
- What does 3 ducks in a row mean?
Three consecutive ducks mean a batter was dismissed for zero in three straight innings. No special term exists for this. It indicates poor batting form during that period.
- What is a diamond duck in cricket?
A diamond duck occurs when a batter is dismissed without facing any legal delivery. Common scenarios include run out at non-striker’s end or stumped off a wide ball. The scorecard shows 0(0).
- Is number 69 banned in cricket?
No, the number 69 is not banned in cricket. Players can wear this number on their jersey. No official ICC rule prohibits any jersey number.
- What are the 8 types of ducks in cricket?
The main types are regular duck, golden duck, silver duck, bronze duck, diamond duck, titanium duck, royal duck, and laughing duck. A ninth type, golden goose, exists as informal slang.
- What is a jaffa in cricket?
A jaffa is an unplayable delivery that beats the batter completely. The term describes a perfect ball that cannot be defended or attacked. It often results in dismissal.
- Which batsman has 0 ducks?
No batter with significant career length has zero ducks. Even great batters like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have been dismissed for duck multiple times across formats.
- What is a royal duck in cricket?
A royal duck happens when an opening batter is dismissed on the first ball of the innings. The scorecard shows 0(1) for the match’s first ball. Sunil Gavaskar had a royal duck against New Zealand in 1980.
- What is a diamond duck in IPL?
A diamond duck in IPL means dismissal without facing a legal ball. The same rule applies as in other formats. Running out at the non-striker’s end while backing up creates a diamond duck.
- What is a laughing duck in cricket?
A laughing duck occurs when the last batter is dismissed for zero. The term applies to the final wicket of an innings. Number 11 batters frequently get laughing ducks.
- What is a king duck in cricket?
King duck is another term for a king pair. This means golden ducks in both innings of a Test match. The batter is dismissed on the first ball faced in both innings.
- Who is known as Bombay duck in cricket?
Ajit Agarkar earned the nickname Bombay Duck after seven consecutive ducks during the Australia tour in 1999-2000. The name stuck despite his later improved batting performances.
- What level is a diamond duck?
A diamond duck is rarer than regular, golden, silver, or bronze ducks. It ranks as one of the most unusual dismissals because no legal ball is faced. Only the titanium duck is rarer.
- Who scored 36 runs in 1 over?
Yuvraj Singh scored 36 runs in one over against England’s Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup. He hit six consecutive sixes. This remains the record for most runs in one over.
- How many types of ducks are there?
Nine duck types are recognized in cricket terminology. These are regular, golden, silver, bronze, diamond, titanium, royal, laughing duck, and golden goose. The first eight are commonly used.
- What is howzat in cricket?
Howzat is an appeal made by the fielding team asking the umpire for dismissal. It is short for “How’s that?” Players shout this when claiming a wicket. The umpire then makes a decision.
Conclusion:
Duck classifications in cricket follow clear rules based on balls faced and batter position.
Regular ducks require four or more balls. Golden, silver, and bronze ducks depend on the exact ball count. Diamond and titanium ducks involve zero legal deliveries.
Understanding duck types helps in reading scorecards accurately. A 0(1) tells you it was a golden duck.
A 0(0) indicates a diamond duck. These details matter when analyzing batting performance and match statistics.
Common ducks like regular and golden ducks happen frequently across all formats.
Rare ducks like the titanium duck and the golden goose occur once in many matches. Royal ducks and laughing ducks depend on specific match situations.
Duck terminology forms an important part of cricket language. Commentators use these terms to describe dismissals quickly.
Scorers record them for statistical analysis. Players and coaches track duck frequency to measure batting consistency and form.
Also Check:
About the Author
