Ducks, ducks and more ducks
Australian batsman David Warner was dismissed for a duck by Stuart Broad three times in a row in the recent Ashes series.
However, getting three zeros in successive Test innings is not uncommon.
South African AB De Villiers had a trio of ducks against England in the 2016 series as did Pakistan’s Shadab Kabir, also against England in 1996.
Sri Lankan Marvan Atapattu had four ducks in five innings (3 in a row) between 1990 and 1994; India’s Pankaj Roy had four noughts in succession against England in 1952, likewise Aussie Steve Waugh, who bagged four successive ducks against Sri Lanka in the 1992-93 series.
However, getting five ducks in a row is something very rare. Only three players have suffered this indignity India’s Ajit Agarkar v. Australia in 2000, Pakistani Mohammed Asif in 2006 against three different countries, and Aussie Bob Holland v. New Zealand in 1985.
‘Duck’ Facts
■ West Indian Courtney Walsh holds the record for most ducks in Test cricket – 43 (11 of them first ballers).
■ New Zealander Chris Martin was dismissed for nought on 36 occasions; Aussies Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne had 35 and 34 respectively while Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan and England’s Stuart Broad have both collected 33.
■ In 1981-82 Aussie Gregg Chappell got seven ducks in Test matches.
■ In Victorian times, Australian Victor Trumper also bagged a hat-trick of noughts in Test cricket.
■ England’s Joe Root has so far had four ducks in 84 Tests.