Cricket is a game of runs, wickets, and catches. It is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it has been played for centuries. However, not every player has been successful in the game. Some players have struggled to make an impact, and as a result, they have recorded a large number of ducks in their career. In this article, we will take a look at the top 7 cricketers with the most ducks in the history of the game.
A duck in cricket is when a batsman is dismissed without scoring any runs. It is a dreaded occurrence for any batsman, as it signals the end of his innings and can be a severe blow to the team’s chances. Some players have made a habit of getting out for a duck, and over the years, they have accumulated a considerable number of ducks in their career.
Let’s take a look at the top 7 cricketers with the most ducks in the history of cricket.
1. Muttiah Muralitharan (59 ducks)
Muttiah Muralitharan is widely regarded as the greatest spin bowler in the history of cricket. He had an outstanding career that spanned over 18 years and played 495 matches across all formats of the game. During this time, he recorded 59 ducks, which is a significant number for any batsman.
Muralitharan was primarily known for his exceptional spin bowling skills, and he was able to take 800 Test wickets, which is the highest by any bowler in Test cricket history. He was also successful in limited-overs cricket, where he took 534 wickets in ODIs and 13 wickets in T20Is.
In the 495 matches he played, he batted for 328 innings, scoring a total of 1936 runs at an average of 9.26. However, he would go after the ball whenever the opportunity presented itself. His stats of 41 international sixes serve as a testament to that.
While Muralitharan was not particularly known for his batting skills, he did contribute some useful runs with the bat on occasions. However, he struggled to cope with quality spin bowling, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career.
Despite his struggles with the bat, Muralitharan’s contribution to the game cannot be understated. He was a game-changer with the ball, and he played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s success in international cricket. Muralitharan’s legacy as a cricketer will always be remembered, and he remains an inspiration to aspiring spin bowlers all around the world.
2. Courtney Andrew Walsh (54 ducks)
Courtney Walsh is a former West Indian cricketer who had a long and illustrious career as a fast bowler. He played 337 matches across all formats of the game and recorded 54 ducks during his batting innings.
Walsh was primarily known for his exceptional bowling skills, and he formed a formidable partnership with fellow West Indian fast bowler, Curtly Ambrose. Together, they terrorized batsmen with their pace and accuracy, and Walsh ended up taking 519 wickets in Test cricket, which is the second-highest by any West Indian bowler. He was also successful in limited-overs cricket, where he took 227 wickets in ODIs and 20 wickets in T20Is.
He was dismissed for duck 54 times during his career, in which he played 337 matches and batted in 264 of them. He scored 1257 runs at an average of 7.39, shedding some light on his batting.
Despite his prowess with the ball, Walsh was not particularly known for his batting skills. He was often sent in as a night-watchman to protect the more established batsmen and was expected to play a defensive role rather than score runs. However, he did struggle to cope with quality bowling at times, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career.
Despite his struggles with the bat, Walsh’s contribution to West Indian cricket cannot be understated. He was a leader on and off the field and played a significant role in West Indies’ success in international cricket during the 1990s. Walsh remains a revered figure in cricketing circles, and his legacy as a cricketer will always be remembered.
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3. Sanath Jayasuriya (53 ducks)
Sanath Jayasuriya is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who had a long and successful career that spanned over two decades. He played 586 matches across all formats of the game and recorded 53 ducks during his batting innings.
Jayasuriya was a dynamic left-handed batsman who was known for his aggressive stroke-play and ability to take the attack to the opposition. He was also an effective left-arm spinner and was able to take 323 wickets in his career.
Despite his success with the bat, Jayasuriya did struggle on occasions, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career. However, his ability to contribute to the team’s success in other areas of the game made him an invaluable asset to the Sri Lankan team.
The batsman, whose aggressive approach caused bowlers to run for cover, was also the reason for his demise. Because of this approach, he had the most ducks in cricket – 53 in his career.
Jayasuriya was a key member of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He played a crucial role in the team’s success, scoring 221 runs and taking seven wickets in the tournament. He was also instrumental in Sri Lanka’s rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings in 2000.
Jayasuriya’s contribution to Sri Lankan cricket cannot be understated. He was a trailblazer who changed the way one-day cricket was played, and his aggressive style of batting set the tone for future generations of Sri Lankan cricketers. Jayasuriya’s legacy as a cricketer will always be remembered, and he remains a revered figure in Sri Lankan cricketing history.
4. Glenn Donald McGrath (49 ducks)
Glenn McGrath is a former Australian cricketer who had a long and successful career as a fast bowler. He played 376 matches across all formats of the game and recorded 49 ducks during his batting innings.
McGrath was primarily known for his exceptional bowling skills and was widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. He had a unique ability to extract bounce and movement off the pitch, and he was able to take 563 wickets in Test cricket, which is the fourth-highest by any bowler in Test cricket history. He was also successful in limited-overs cricket, where he took 381 wickets in ODIs and 7 wickets in T20Is.
Despite his prowess with the ball, McGrath was not particularly known for his batting skills. He was often sent in as a night-watchman to protect the more established batsmen and was expected to play a defensive role rather than score runs.When it came to his batting, however, little creativity was required to get him out. McGrath was a typical tailender who batted at number 11 for the majority of his career. However, he did struggle to cope with quality bowling at times, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career.
Despite his struggles with the bat, McGrath’s contribution to Australian cricket cannot be understated. He was a key member of the Australian team that dominated world cricket during the 1990s and early 2000s. He played a significant role in Australia’s success in international cricket and was instrumental in the team’s three consecutive World Cup victories in 1999, 2003, and 2007.
5. Stuart Broad (49 ducks)
Stuart Broad is an English cricketer who is primarily known for his exceptional fast bowling skills. He has played 338 matches across all formats of the game and has recorded 49 ducks during his batting innings.
Broad made his international debut for England in 2006 and quickly established himself as one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket. He has taken 523 wickets in Test cricket, which is the second-highest by any England bowler, and he has also been successful in limited-overs cricket, where he has taken 178 wickets in ODIs and 65 wickets in T20Is.
While Broad is primarily known for his bowling skills, he has also shown his ability with the bat on occasions. He has scored over 3000 runs in international cricket, including a century against Pakistan in 2010. However, he has also struggled with the bat at times, which has resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career.
Despite his struggles with the bat, Broad’s contribution to English cricket cannot be understated. He has been a key member of the English team that has enjoyed success in international cricket over the past decade. He played a significant role in England’s victory in the 2010 T20 World Cup and the 2013 Ashes series.
6. Mahela Jayawardene (47 ducks)
Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who had a long and successful career in international cricket. He played a total of 652 matches across all formats of the game and recorded 47 ducks during his batting innings.
Jayawardene was known for his elegant stroke-play and ability to play under pressure. He was also an astute leader and captained the Sri Lankan team in both Test and ODI cricket. He played a key role in Sri Lanka’s success in international cricket, including the 2014 T20 World Cup victory and the 2007 World Cup final.
It may raise a few eyebrows to see one of the best Sri Lankan batsmen on this list of the most ducks in cricket, but such is the case when you bat up the order and the unpredictability that comes with it. Despite his success with the bat, Jayawardene did struggle on occasions, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks in his career. However, his ability to contribute to the team’s success in other areas of the game made him an invaluable asset to the Sri Lankan team.
Jayawardene retired from international cricket in 2015, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of all time. He scored over 25,000 runs in international cricket, including 34 centuries and 118 half-centuries. He was also a brilliant fielder and took over 200 catches in his career.
Jayawardene’s contribution to Sri Lankan cricket cannot be understated. He was a role model for young cricketers in Sri Lanka and inspired a generation of players with his performances on the field. He remains a revered figure in Sri Lankan cricketing history and his legacy will be remembered for years to come.
7. Daniel Vettori (46 ducks)
Daniel Vittori, one of the best Kiwi mainstays, ranks seventh on the list of most ducks in cricket. Vettori, who led the spin department of the New Zealand cricket team for a long time, was also a capable batsman. He has scored centuries for his team batting down the order, demonstrating his ability to handle the willow when needed.
Daniel Vettori played a total of 442 matches across all formats of the game and recorded 46 ducks during his batting innings. He was primarily known for his left-arm spin bowling, which made him one of the most successful bowlers in New Zealand’s cricketing history.
Vettori made his debut for New Zealand in 1997 and quickly established himself as a key player for the team. He was known for his accuracy and ability to get the ball to turn on any surface, which made him a tough opponent for any batsman. He finished his career with a total of 362 Test wickets, which is the most by any New Zealand bowler.
While Vettori was primarily known for his bowling, he was also a handy lower-order batsman who could score important runs when needed. He recorded 4 Test centuries and 23 half-centuries in his career, but he also struggled with the bat at times, which resulted in him recording a significant number of ducks.
Vettori retired from international cricket in 2015, leaving behind a legacy as one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers. He was a key member of the New Zealand team that reached the 2015 World Cup final and played a crucial role in the team’s success in international cricket.
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In conclusion, these are the top 7 cricketers with the most ducks in the history of cricket. While getting out for a duck is never a pleasant experience for any batsman, it is important to note that these players compensated for their batting weaknesses with exceptional skills in other areas of the game. These players are a testament to the fact that cricket is not just about individual statistics but also about contributing to the team’s success. Despite their struggles with the bat, these players made a significant impact on the game and left a lasting legacy for future generations of cricketers to follow.