Most Ducks in International Cricket: Top Players and Records

A duck in cricket occurs when a batter is dismissed without scoring a single run in an innings. Even some of cricket history’s greatest players have recorded numerous ducks in their international careers.

Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for the most ducks in international cricket, with 59, followed by Courtney Walsh with 54 and Sanath Jayasuriya with 53. These totals combine performances in Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Interestingly, the list includes specialist bowlers as well as accomplished batters. Players who bat lower in the order often have fewer opportunities to score, while top-order batters face the challenge of opening against fresh bowlers.

We explore the players with the most international ducks, the leading records in each format and the statistics behind these cricket records.

What Is a Duck in Cricket?

A duck occurs when a batter is dismissed without scoring any runs in an innings. It can happen in Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is, and includes different categories such as golden, silver, bronze and diamond ducks.

For a detailed explanation of these terms, see our guide to Duck Out in Cricket.

Most Ducks in International Cricket: Top Players

Muttiah Muralitharan leads the all-format list with 59 ducks. Courtney Walsh and Sanath Jayasuriya occupy the next two positions.

The following table includes players tied across the top 10 ranking positions. Equal totals share the same rank, and the next position is skipped.

International Ducks Compared with Batting Innings

Duck totals become more meaningful when compared with the number of batting innings played. The following figures illustrate the difference between three leading players.

Jayasuriya played 651 international batting innings and recorded six fewer ducks than Muralitharan, who played 328 innings. This comparison shows why career length and batting opportunities matter when interpreting duck records.

Format-Wise Duck Breakdown of the Leading Players

Muralitharan’s 59 international ducks consisted of 33 in Tests, 25 in ODIs and one in T20Is.

Walsh’s 54 international ducks included 43 in Tests, 11 in ODIs and none in T20Is.

These figures demonstrate how a player’s performances across different international formats contribute to the overall record.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan: 59 Ducks

Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka holds the record for the most ducks in international cricket, with 59 dismissals for zero.

He played international cricket from 1992 to 2011 and appeared in 495 international matches, with 328 batting innings. Although batting was not his primary responsibility, he became one of the most successful bowlers in cricket history.

Muralitharan finished his Test career with 800 wickets and his ODI career with 534 wickets. His 59 ducks comprised 33 in Tests, 25 in ODIs and one in a T20 international.

His high duck total reflects his position as a lower-order batter. Despite his limited batting contributions, his bowling achievements established him as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

2. Courtney Walsh: 54 Ducks

Courtney Walsh of the West Indies recorded 54 international ducks, placing him second on the all-format list.

Walsh played international cricket from 1984 to 2001 and took 519 wickets in Test matches. He became the first bowler to reach 500 Test wickets, marking a significant milestone in the history of the format.

He played 264 international batting innings and scored 1,257 runs. His highest Test score was 30 not out, and he never scored a Test half-century.

As a specialist fast bowler, Walsh generally batted in the lower order. He often faced the opposition’s bowlers when his team’s innings was under pressure.

Walsh also holds the record for the most ducks in Test cricket, with 43. His 54 international ducks consisted of 43 in Tests, 11 in ODIs and none in T20Is.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya: 53 Ducks

Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka ranks third with 53 international ducks.

Unlike most of the bowlers near the top of this list, Jayasuriya was an aggressive top-order batter. He played international cricket from 1989 to 2011 and scored 13,430 runs in ODIs.

He recorded his 53 ducks across 651 international batting innings, making his record particularly interesting when compared with specialist bowlers such as Muralitharan and Walsh.

Jayasuriya became famous for his attacking approach during the early overs of limited-overs cricket. His batting helped change how teams approached the ODI powerplay and the opening stages of an innings.

His duck total is notable because opening batters regularly face the new ball and have to deal with challenging conditions at the beginning of an innings.

Despite recording 53 ducks, Jayasuriya remains one of Sri Lanka’s most influential all-round cricketers.

4. Glenn McGrath: 49 Ducks

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath recorded 49 international ducks during his career from 1993 to 2007.

He played 376 international matches and took 563 wickets in Test cricket. McGrath was known for his accuracy, consistent line and length, and ability to exploit weaknesses in opposing batters.

Batting was not his primary responsibility. As a lower-order player, he frequently faced difficult situations when his team’s innings was nearing its end.

McGrath’s international career was defined by his exceptional bowling rather than his batting statistics. His duck total is best understood in the context of his role as a specialist fast bowler.

5. Stuart Broad: 49 Ducks

England’s Stuart Broad also recorded 49 international ducks, placing him level with Glenn McGrath.

Broad played 344 international matches before retiring from international cricket in 2023. He finished his Test career with 604 wickets, making him one of England’s most successful fast bowlers.

Although he was primarily a bowler, Broad also produced memorable batting performances. He scored a Test century against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, demonstrating that he could contribute significantly with the bat.

His duck total reflects the challenges of batting in the lower order across a long international career. Broad’s achievements with the ball remain the defining feature of his career.

6. Mahela Jayawardene: 47 Ducks

Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka recorded 47 international ducks during his career from 1997 to 2015.

He played 652 international matches and scored 25,957 international runs. Jayawardene was particularly effective in Test and ODI cricket, combining technical ability with composure under pressure.

Unlike many players on this list, Jayawardene was an accomplished top-order batter. He played several important innings for Sri Lanka and became one of the country’s leading run-scorers.

His inclusion shows that a high duck total is not limited to specialist bowlers. Even technically sound batters can be dismissed without scoring when they play hundreds of international innings.

Jayawardene’s overall record remains one of the outstanding achievements in Sri Lankan cricket.

7. Daniel Vettori: 46 Ducks

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori recorded 46 international ducks during his career from 1997 to 2015.

Vettori played 442 international matches and took 362 Test wickets. He was a left-arm orthodox spinner who became an important figure in New Zealand cricket.

In addition to his bowling, Vettori contributed useful runs and frequently occupied the middle or lower order. His ability to contribute in both departments made him a valuable member of the team.

His duck total reflects the challenges of batting across a long career, particularly for players whose primary responsibility is to take wickets.

Vettori’s achievements as a bowler and captain remain more significant than his number of dismissals for zero.

8. James Anderson: 45 Ducks

England’s James Anderson recorded 45 international ducks.

Anderson played international cricket from 2002 to 2024 and finished his Test career with 704 wickets. This remains the highest Test wicket tally by a fast bowler.

He was renowned for his ability to swing the ball and maintain control across different conditions. His longevity allowed him to remain a major part of England’s bowling attack for more than two decades.

Anderson generally batted near the bottom of the order. Although his batting contributions were limited, he occasionally helped his team survive difficult periods.

His record illustrates how a long international career can produce numerous ducks even when a player excels in another discipline.

9. Wasim Akram: 45 Ducks

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram recorded 45 international ducks during a career that lasted from 1984 to 2003.

Widely regarded as one of the finest left-arm fast bowlers in cricket history, Akram took 414 Test wickets and 502 ODI wickets.

Unlike many specialist fast bowlers, Akram was also a capable batter. He scored three Test centuries and could contribute valuable runs in the lower order.

His batting ability made him an important all-round contributor to Pakistan, particularly in situations where the team needed additional runs.

Akram’s duck total demonstrates that even players with considerable batting ability can be dismissed for zero over a long international career.

10. Chris Gayle: 44 Ducks

Chris Gayle of the West Indies recorded 44 international ducks.

Gayle was one of the most destructive opening batters in modern cricket. He played international cricket across all three formats and became particularly famous for his aggressive approach in limited-overs matches.

As an opening batter, Gayle regularly faced the new ball and the opposition’s leading fast bowlers. His attacking style often involved taking risks to score quickly.

Although his career included many memorable centuries and match-winning performances, he was also dismissed without scoring on numerous occasions.

His inclusion among the players tied on 44 ducks highlights the difference between a batter’s overall achievements and the number of times they have been dismissed for zero.

11. Shahid Afridi: 44 Ducks

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi recorded 44 international ducks.

Afridi was an attacking all-rounder known for his aggressive batting and leg-spin bowling. He represented Pakistan across a long international career and became one of the most recognisable players in limited-overs cricket.

His batting approach often prioritised quick scoring, particularly in ODIs and T20 cricket. Such an aggressive style could produce spectacular innings, but it could also lead to early dismissals.

Afridi’s international career included significant contributions with both bat and ball. His duck total is only one part of a career characterised by attacking cricket and numerous memorable performances.

12. Shane Warne: 44 Ducks

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne recorded 44 international ducks.

Warne played international cricket from 1992 to 2007 and took 708 wickets in Test matches. He was one of the most influential leg-spin bowlers in cricket history.

His bowling transformed Australia’s attack and helped the team achieve major successes during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Warne generally batted in the lower order. Although he could occasionally contribute useful runs, his principal responsibility was to take wickets.

His inclusion in this ranking illustrates why specialist bowlers frequently appear among players with high duck totals.

13. Zaheer Khan: 44 Ducks

India’s Zaheer Khan recorded 44 international ducks.

Zaheer played international cricket from 2000 to 2014 and took 311 Test wickets and 282 ODI wickets. He was one of India’s leading left-arm fast bowlers and played an important role in the country’s international success.

He was particularly effective with the new ball and developed into a valuable bowler across different conditions.

Zaheer generally batted near the bottom of the order, where scoring opportunities could be limited. His duck total reflects the challenges faced by specialist bowlers during long international careers.

He shares tenth place with Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Shane Warne, all of whom recorded 44 international ducks.

Why Do Bowlers Often Have the Most Ducks in International Cricket?

Source Image: ABP Live

Specialist bowlers frequently appear near the top of all-format duck rankings. Several factors help explain this pattern.

1. They usually bat lower in the order: Lower-order batters often come to the crease when their team has already lost several wickets. They may face aggressive bowling with limited time to settle.
2. Batting is not their primary role: Specialist bowlers generally focus on developing their bowling skills. Although many can contribute useful runs, their principal responsibility is to take wickets.
3. They often face difficult match situations: A tailender may enter the field when the team is under pressure or the innings is close to ending. These circumstances can make it difficult to score runs.
4. Long careers create more opportunities: Players who appear in hundreds of international matches accumulate many batting opportunities. Over time, even a relatively low probability of dismissal for zero can produce a substantial total.
5. Opening batters face different challenges: A high duck total is not limited to bowlers. Opening batters such as Sanath Jayasuriya and Chris Gayle regularly faced the new ball and aggressive bowling while attempting to score quickly.

A duck total should therefore be considered alongside a player’s batting position, number of innings, career length and overall achievements.

Which Player Has the Most Ducks in Each International Format?

The leading players differ when Test cricket, ODIs and T20Is are considered separately.

These records were checked against published cricket statistics on 30 October 2026.

Most Ducks in Test Cricket

Courtney Walsh holds the record for the most ducks in Test cricket, with 43.

Test matches can last up to five days, and batters may have to face sustained spells of fast and spin bowling. Specialist bowlers who bat in the lower order can be particularly vulnerable when an innings is nearing its end.

Walsh’s record is especially notable because he never scored a Test half-century, finishing with a highest score of 30 not out from 1,257 international runs.

Most Ducks in ODI Cricket

Sanath Jayasuriya holds the ODI record with 34 ducks.

As an opening batter, Jayasuriya frequently faced the new ball and adopted an aggressive approach to scoring. His record demonstrates that even a highly successful batter can accumulate ducks over a long career.

Most Ducks in T20 International Cricket

Dasun Shanaka holds the T20I record with 16 ducks, reached during the February 2026 T20 World Cup.

Before Shanaka moved ahead, the record was jointly held at 13 ducks by Kevin Irakoze of Rwanda, Soumya Sarkar of Bangladesh, Paul Stirling of Ireland and Shanaka himself.

Shanaka moved beyond that four-way tie to establish the outright record with 16 T20I ducks.

T20Is provide fewer overs per innings than Tests and ODIs, and batters are often expected to score quickly. However, the number of ducks depends on appearances, batting opportunities and dismissals rather than the format alone.

Most Golden Ducks in International Cricket

A golden duck occurs when a batter is dismissed on the first delivery they face in an innings. It is a specific type of duck and is recorded separately from other dismissals for zero.

Some notable format records include:

Muralitharan’s 14 golden ducks are the highest recorded in the Test figures cited by cricket statistics sources. Lasith Malinga holds the ODI record with 13 golden ducks.

These records highlight another way to measure dismissals without scoring and are separate from the overall international duck rankings.

Conclusion

Muttiah Muralitharan leads the all-format ranking for the most ducks in international cricket, with 59. Courtney Walsh follows with 54, while Sanath Jayasuriya has 53.

The list includes specialist bowlers such as Glenn McGrath, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Zaheer Khan, alongside accomplished batters such as Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and Chris Gayle.

These records show that a duck is only one small part of a player’s career. Batting position, career length, the number of innings played and individual playing style all influence how frequently a batter is dismissed without scoring.

The comparison between Muralitharan, Walsh and Jayasuriya demonstrates why innings played must be considered alongside total ducks when comparing international players.

Frequently Asked Questions