Cricket Record for No Ducks in Career: ODI, T20i, Test

Because of the rules and structure of the game, cricket often yields surprising outcomes. “Batsmen with no ducks in career” is the name of one of these records.

This makes no sense at all. Still, there are others who have achieved this feat. How about we really get into this interesting topic?

The Incredible Truth

It’s impossible to imagine a batsman who never scores a duck in his professional career. But the reality is just the opposite.

Many athletes have successfully avoided setting this undesirable record. Others have never been eliminated from the game despite having fewer ducks than the individuals who hold the dubious record.

An Unexpected Star Performer

Here’s a shocker: the top player with 0 ducks in his cricket career is from Afghanistan. Yes, you did read that correctly.

Samiullah Shenwari, who excels mostly as a bowler, is at the top. He has scored over 2000 runs without getting a hit in 89 innings.

Wow, that’s incredible! Interestingly, Faf du Plessis, the former South African captain, once owned this record. When he got a duck, however, his run came to an end.

Not the Only One to Achieve

As for “no ducks in career,” Samiullah isn’t the only one. Several batsmen have made it their goal to score at least once in each and every game.

Here’s a list of the top 10 players who’ve played the most matches without a duck:

1. Samiullah Shenwari (Afg): 104 matches, 2022 runs, highest score of 96.
2. BP Patel (India): 31 matches, 1215 runs, highest score of 115*.
3. JW Burke (Aus): 24 matches, 1280 runs, highest score of 189.
4. RA Duff (Aus): 22 matches, 1317 runs, highest score of 146.
5. BP Nash (WI): 30 matches, 1207 runs, highest score of 114.
6. RJ Christiani (WI): 22 matches, 896 runs, highest score of 107.
7. Waqar Hasan (Pak): 21 matches, 1071 runs, highest score of 189.
8. VJ Marks (Eng): 40 matches, 534 runs, highest score of 83.
9. Zahid Fazal (Pak): 28 matches, 636 runs, highest score of 98*.
10. JW Zulch (SA): 16 matches, 983 runs, highest score of 150.

An Unparalleled ODI Cricket Career with No Ducks

It’s impossible to know what will happen in a game of cricket. A duck may cause even the most legendary of figures to blush.

But there is a select handful of cricket players who have managed to avoid this fate during their entire careers in ODIs.

Let’s kick things off by listing the amazing athletes who have never had a career-ending injury.

1. Kepler Wessels: The Top Performer

Former South African batsman Kepler Wessels, who now holds the number one spot, dominates the field.

He did not record a single duck during his 105 innings of play between the years 1983 and 1994. Do you find that impressive?

2. Yashpal Sharma: India’s Pride

The next participant is Yashpal Sharma, who hails from India. Between the years 1978 and 1985, he participated in a total of 40 innings, one of which being the illustrious World Cup in 1983.

Even though he had 883 races under his belt, he had never been challenged by a duck.

3. PN Kirsten: Another South African Gem

PN Another South African athlete by the name of Kirsten finished in third place. Between the years 1991 and 1994, he was on the field for a total of 40 innings and was never put out. During this time period, he amassed a total of 1293 runs.

4. Jacques Rudolph: Consistency Personified

Jacques Rudolph, a native of South Africa, moved up to the fourth spot to take his place. Between the years 2003 and 2006, he participated in 39 innings of baseball and scored 1174 runs without getting a hit.

5. Nathan Hauritz: Australia’s All-Rounder

An Australian all-rounder named Nathan Hauritz is now in sixth place. Between the years 2002 and 2011, he participated in 32 innings across 58 matches.

In spite of the fact that he batted lower in the order, he never got out and finished with 336 runs scored.

6. Jack Russell: England’s Middle-Order Pillar

The sixth slot goes to an English Jack Russell named Jack Russell. Between the years 1987 and 1998, he participated in a total of 40 matches and played 31 innings, during which he scored a perfect 423 runs.

7. DS De Silva: Sri Lanka’s Stalwart

The seventh spot is now held by DS De Silva, who used to play batting for Sri Lanka. During his career, which spanned from 1975 to 1985, he never faced a duck in any of his 371 innings played in ODIs.

8. N Deonarine: West Indies’ Reliable All-Rounder

N Deonarine, who is from the West Indies, comes in at number eight on our list. Between 2005 and 2015, he did not record a single hit throughout the course of 29 innings.

9. Rassie Van Der Dussen: South Africa’s Rising Star

A modern player from South Africa named Rassie Van Der Dussen is currently ranked eighth. Since the year 2019, he has participated in 29 innings and has scored a total of 1365 runs without getting a hit.

10. AI Kallicharran: West Indies’ Classic Batsman

AI Kallicharran of the West Indies batted for a total of 28 innings between the years 1973 and 1981 without ever being dismissed by a duck.

The Unbeaten Ten: Batsmen with No Ducks in Career of T20 Internationals

Twenty20 (T20) Cricket has transformed the game in the last two decades. Smaller boundaries and heavier bats have made it a batsman’s paradise, often sidelining bowlers.

Initially, T20 aimed to rejuvenate domestic cricket. By 2005, the first men’s international T20 match took place between Australia and New Zealand.

The format’s popularity skyrocketed, especially with the inception of leagues like IPL. However, some, like Ricky Ponting, believe it’s overshadowing Test cricket.

T20 demands quick runs. Hence, scoring a duck isn’t uncommon. But, some players have managed to avoid this fate. Let’s dive into the list of batsmen with no ducks in career.

1. Kusal Perera, a resident of Sri Lanka

The explosive Sri Lankan opener Kusal Perera is frequently compared to the even more legendary Sanath Jayasuriya.

In just 34 innings, he has scored 1020 runs and provided his club with blazing starts on a frequent basis.

2. Ravi Bopara, from the United Kingdom

The English all-rounder Bopara has appeared in 35 innings, accumulating 711 runs throughout the course of his career. His all-round ability is demonstrated by the fact that he has captured 16 wickets.

3. Aaron Finch, originating from Australia

Finch, a formidable player from Australia, amassed 1206 runs over the course of 36 innings. His score of 156 off 63 balls versus England is still remembered as a remarkable achievement.

4. Chamara Kapugedera, which is located in Sri Lanka

The Kapugedera project began with promise but eventually ran into obstacles. In 38 innings, he’s managed to score 703 runs.

5. Francois du Plessis, former Prime Minister of South Africa

In 39 at bats, Du Plessis, a key player for South Africa, has amassed a total of 1191 runs scored. He has also excelled in the Indian Premier League, particularly with Chennai Super Kings.

6. Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka

Chandimal has demonstrated tenacity under adversity, as evidenced by his score of 738 runs in 45 innings played. He was very crucial to Sri Lanka’s success at the World T20 in 2014 as a player.

7. David Miller, South Africa

Miller, sometimes known as “Killer Miller,” has been in high demand as a Twenty20 player. In 52 innings, he has scored 1070 runs, including the fastest T20I century ever scored, which he achieved against Bangladesh.

8. Hamilton Masakadza, Zimbabwe

Masakadza, a reliable player for Zimbabwe, has scored 1460 runs in 52 matches. He has always given strong performances for the sake of his nation.

9. Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka

Angelo Mathews has been a guiding light for Sri Lanka during its current period of transformation. After 57 innings, he has racked up 1055 runs scored.

10. Marlon Samuels, West Indies

Samuels is now in first place on our leaderboard with 1573 runs scored in 62 innings. His contributions to the team’s triumph at the World T20 have been invaluable.

Defying the Duck: The Elite 21 in Test Cricket with No Ducks in Career

In cricket, a batsman’s worst performance is when they score a duck. However, 21 of the players have never had the “bird” appear on their score sheet.

Remarkably, they were successful in accomplishing something that not even cricketing greats like Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar could do. They have “no ducks in the career” when it comes to test matches.

A quick look at some of these players is in order:

1. Jim Burke (Australia): From 1951-1959, he played 24 matches, scored 1280 runs at an average of 34.59 with 3 centuries.
2. Chris Rogers (Australia): Between 2008-2015, he played 22 matches, amassing 1683 runs at 41.04, with 4 centuries.
3. Reggie Duff (Australia): Active from 1902-1905, he played 22 matches, scoring 1317 runs at 35.59, with 2 centuries.
4. Brijesh Patel (India): Between 1974-1977, he played 21 matches, scored 972 runs at 29.45, with 1 century.
5. Robert Christiani (West Indies): From 1948-1954, he played 22 matches, scored 896 runs at 26.35, with 1 century.
6. Dave Houghton (Zimbabwe): Active from 1992-1997, he played 22 matches, amassing 1464 runs at 43.05, with 4 centuries.
7. Waqar Hasan (Pakistan): From 1952-1959, he played 21 matches, scored 1071 runs at 31.50, with 1 century.
8. Bernard Julien (West Indies): Between 1973-1977, he played 24 matches, scored 866 runs at 30.92, with 2 centuries.
9. Brendan Nash (West Indies): Active from 2008-2011, he played 21 matches, amassing 1103 runs at 33.42, with 2 centuries.
10. Billy Zulch (South Africa): From 1910-1921, he played 16 matches, scored 983 runs at 32.76, with 2 centuries.

Final Thoughts: The Science (and Art) of Dodging Ducks

The unpredictable nature of cricket means that we are frequently caught off guard. Amazing numbers include “no ducks in career.” Many athletes have experienced the humiliation of a duck, but only a select few have avoided it.

These athletes have impressed in every format of the game, from the fast-paced Twenty20 to the more cerebral One-Day International and the time-honored Test.

Their success serves as a reminder that cricket is about more than just smashing boundaries; it also requires perseverance and determination.