What is a Duck in Cricket? And its Different Types

Whenever a batter comes to the crease, they want to get off the mark immediately. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned, and they get out without adding any runs, scoring an unfortunate duck.

Now what is this duck? How did the term emerge? And how many types of ducks are there?

In this article, we’ll get to know ‘Duck’ in cricket and its various types.

What is a Duck in Cricket?

Whenever a batter gets out on the score of zero, it’s referred to as a duck. No batter wants to get out without scoring a run so that they don’t attract any unwanted records.

However, batters getting out on zero is a normal sight in cricket, with many registering record ducks in their careers.

The term ‘Duck’ emerged in the gentleman’s game thanks to zero’s (0) resemblance to an actual duck egg. This is what the scorers from the past felt, and the term got associated with the batters getting dismissed on zero. 

Back then, every dismissal on zero was referred to as a duck, but with time, we have added 8 different types of ducks. Let’s take a look at each one of them.

Also Read | 11 Modes of Dismissals in Cricket

Types of Ducks in Cricket

1. Golden Duck

This is the most disheartening type a batter can get out in cricket. Whenever you hear a commentator say, ‘The batter has bagged a golden duck’, it means the batter got out on the first ball they faced without scoring a run.

2. Silver Duck

Think of it as an athlete getting a silver medal for finishing second, but in cricket, it’s not a joyous moment. A silver duck means the batter was dismissed on zero on their second delivery, though it’s not commonly used.

3. Bronze Duck

Bronze duck comes in the third position in the pecking order after a batter walks back to the pavilion after getting dismissed on the third delivery, scoring a zero.

4. Diamond Duck

Your eyes might sparkle after looking at a diamond, but they might bring tears after getting out on a diamond duck. Registering a diamond duck is the most horrific of them all.

Here, a batter gets out on zero without facing a single delivery. How can this happen? 

Well, a batter can be run out, timed out, or dismissed while obstructing the field on zero. Chances are they might even get stumped on a wide delivery, bagging a diamond duck.

5. Royal Duck

There’s no royal feeling attached to getting dismissed on a royal duck. Whenever an opener loses their wicket on the first ball of their team’s innings, it’s labelled a royal duck.

6. Laughing Duck

The laughing duck is the exact opposite of the royal duck. When a batter is dismissed on the last delivery of their team’s innings on zero, it’s referred to as a laughing duck. Now, the batter won’t be happy, but the opposition will surely laugh about that.

7. A Pair

When a batter registers any of the above ducks in both innings of a Test match or a First-Class match, it’s called a pair.

8. King Pair

The king pair is even worse than a pair. The king pair occurs when a batter gets out on golden ducks in both innings of a Test or First-Class match. 

Read Next | What is the Difference Between First-Class and List A Cricket?