Stats: Teams With Most Number of Ducks in Test Cricket
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Here is the list of Teams With Most Number of Ducks in Test Cricket. Getting out on a duck is a humiliation for any batsman or his team as it leaves them in an awkward situation at times. The term is a shortening of the word “duck’s egg”, the latter being used long before Test cricket began.
Cricket is often termed as a batsmen dominating game, especially in limited overs fixtures where most of the rules favor the batsmen but when it comes to the longest format of the game bowlers too find themselves in the game.
In Test match cricket, fielders can be placed in a way that a batsman can be restricted and the bowlers can plan a dismissal and work on a particular individual’s weakness. Which is why the number of times a batsman goes without scoring increases briskly.
Over the years, we have seen many teams taking (what some people term as unfair) home advantage and use doctored wickets aiding their strength to bamboozle their opponents.
Though, teams like India, Australia and New Zealand who have been dominant in cricketing history but they are also the ones with the most number of ducks (zero scores) in the five-day format.
The most surprising part is that India which is known as a dominant batting nation is in the top-five list of countries with most number of ducks.
Here we look at the top 10 teams with most ducks in Test match cricket history:
10. Bangladesh – 261 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the fastest growing cricket nations in the world, Bangladesh have come a long way since their first international test in 2000. Still not a great team in the longest format, Bangladesh has a lot of potential as they have been improving tremendously over the last few years. The Tigers were not a formidable team in tests mainly due to their weak batting coupled with inaccurate bowling. They had 261 ducks to their name in their 103 test long test history.
9. Zimbabwe – 272 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the least efficient teams in test cricket, Zimbabwe has never been a dominant force in the longest format of the game. They had some good players in the late 90s, but the quality has deteriorated over the years. Zimbabwe has 272 instances where a player got dismissed for a duck in 102 test matches till date.
8. Sri Lanka – 514 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
The island nation of Asia has had some of the best batsmen in the past two decades but was very inconsistent away from home. They have grown as a team in from the 1990s to late 2000s and has become a dominant force in cricket. The Sri Lankans were out for 0 in 514 instances in their 263 test matches so far.
7. South Africa – 750 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
The Proteas are a formidable side since their return to the game in the 1990s but were a below-par team which started playing the game as early as 1889 only next to Australia and England. They have been a good all-round unit and are one of the most dominant teams in test cricket in the last two decades. They have managed 750 ducks in their 416* test matches till date.
6. Pakistan – 754 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the most dominant sides with the ball, Pakistan were always inconsistent with the bat over the past few decades. Having had some of the best batsmen in the world, Pakistan still had to rely on their bowlers. Pakistan batsmen have got out for a duck 754 times in 411 test matches.
5. New Zealand – 912 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the ever-present teams in cricket, New Zealand were never a dominant side outside the home, especially in the test cricket. The team had some great batsmen who could score at ease but has always been an underdog in an away series. The Kiwis have 912 ducks in 422 Tests they played so far.
4. India – 922 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
A batting dominated nation which has produced some of the greatest legends of the game, India were/are a batsman-reliant team which has helped the batsman in the country to improve their technique well. India has 922 ducks in 515 test matches they played till date.
3. West Indies – 1071 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the most feared teams in the late 20th century, West Indies has grown into a strong batting unit ever since and still possesses the game’s biggest hitters in their arsenal. However, the quality of their cricket has dropped in the recent years as they look an ordinary side even at home. The Caribbeans have 1071 ducks to their name in 526 tests.
2. Australia – 1423 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
One of the most dominant teams since the game was invented, Australia always had some of the greatest batsmen the game ever saw. From Don Bradman to Ricky Ponting they produced so many batting greats. The mighty Aussies have 1423 ducks in 803 test matches they played so far.
1. England – 1739 ducks (Most Ducks in Test Cricket)
Not a surprise! Considering they have played 990 Test matches nearly 200 more tests than the second-highest Australia. Even though it is not a great list to be on top of, England have always been a remarkable side in the longest format. They have always weighed the original form more than the shorter formats. The English batsmen were out for a duck in 1739 instances in their Test cricket history.
Read More : Stat Attack: Ten Batsmen Who Got Out on 199