Top 10: Most Golden Ducks in Test Cricket

Muthiah Muralidaran was an astute spinner in his playing days, ending up as the highest wicket-taker in Tests. However, he holds an unwanted batting record in the longest format.

Which record, you ask?

The record for registering the most golden ducks in Test cricket.

No batter, including the tailender, wants to get out on the score of zero, and that too off the first ball. However, some batters, including Muralidaran, have been at the receiving end of this undesirable record the most times.

Here are the top 10 players with the most golden ducks in Test cricket.

Most Golden Ducks in Tests

Key Insights

Out of Muralidaran’s 33 ducks, 14 were golden ducks — the most by a batter in the Test format.

Courtney Walsh logged 10 first-ball ducks in his 132-match Test career. However, those golden ducks were just a tiny portion of his whopping 43 ducks — the most ducks by a batter in Tests.

8 batters have recorded golden ducks on more than 10 percent of occasions they have batted in their Test careers, with England’s Sam Curran leading the pack (15.79).

India’s Ajit Agarkar scored 4 consecutive golden ducks in 4 Test innings, of which 2nd and 3rd came in a single match against Australia, making it a ‘King Pair’. Check out the list of players with King Pairs in Tests. 

Moreover, Agarkar holds the joint record for scoring the most consecutive ducks in Tests, with 5 to his name. He added one more duck to his 4 golden ducks streak, although this time he got out on the second ball. 

Australia and England are the only teams with 10 or more players who have been dismissed on golden ducks in 5 or more Test innings.