List of Players With Most Ducks in the ICC World Cup
A duck is a batsman’s nightmare. It’s the ultimate failure, the most ignominious way to be dismissed. But even the best players in the world have been out for a duck from time to time, even in the high-stakes World Cup.Here is a list of the players with the most ducks in the ICC ODI World Cup.
Most Ducks in Cricket World Cup: Every player enters the Cricket World Cup with the desire to make their country proud and write their name in history. They dream of scoring hundreds, batting at high averages, and striking the ball cleanly. But sometimes, the pressure can become too much, and even the best players can make mistakes.
Most Ducks in Cricket World Cup
One of the biggest fears for any batter is to get out on a duck, especially in the World Cup. A duck is when a batter is dismissed without scoring a single run, and a golden duck is when they are dismissed on the very first ball they face.
Even the biggest names in cricket have suffered the ignominy of getting out on a duck in the World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers, and Shahid Afridi are just a few examples. It is a reminder that even the best players are not immune to failure.
List of Players with the Most Ducks in the ICC ODI World Cup
1. Nathan Astle (New Zealand)
Nathan Astle, the former New Zealand opener, was a slow-burning batter who could suddenly explode. He holds the record for the fastest double century in Test cricket, scored off just 153 balls. He was also a handy all-rounder, with 7,090 runs and 16 ODI hundreds to his name, as well as 99 wickets.
Astle played in three World Cups for New Zealand, but he had mixed success. He scored 403 runs in 22 matches, including two centuries and a fifty. However, he also got out for a duck five times in the tournament.
Astle was a unique player who was both powerful and skillful. He was a popular figure among fans and teammates alike, and his retirement in 2009 was a major loss for New Zealand cricket.
2. Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan)
Ijaz Ahmed was one of Pakistan’s most prolific batters of his time, with over 6,500 runs and 10 centuries in ODIs. He also played a key role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory. However, he also has a dubious record in the tournament, with the joint-most ducks (5) in ODI World Cup history.
Ahmed featured in four World Cups between 1987 and 1999, playing 29 matches in total. He scored 516 runs at an average of 23.45, with four half-centuries. Despite his overall success in ODIs, he struggled to replicate his form in the World Cup, often falling cheaply to the opposition bowlers.
3. Kyle McCallan (Ireland) – Most Ducks in ODI World Cup
Kyle McCallan had a disappointing 2007 ODI World Cup with the bat, scoring just 33 runs in 8 innings at an average of 4.71. This was well below his career average of 20.05. He was unlucky to be dismissed for a duck on four occasions, but he also failed to convert any of his starts into substantial scores.
His best batting performance of the tournament came against England, when he scored 17 runs in a losing effort. He also made 12 runs against Sri Lanka and 10 runs against Pakistan.
Overall, it was a forgettable tournament for McCallan with the bat. However, he did make a significant contribution with the ball, taking 10 wickets at an average of 23.30. His best bowling performance came against Kenya, when he took 4 for 35.
Most Ducks in ICC World Cup
| Most Ducks in ICC World Cup | ||||
| Player | Ducks | Inns | Runs | Span |
| Nathan Astle (NZ) | 5 | 22 | 403 | 1996-2003 |
| Ijaz Ahmed (PAK) | 5 | 26 | 516 | 1987-1999 |
| Kyle McCallan (IRE) | 4 | 8 | 33 | 2007-2007 |
| Darren Bravo (WI) | 4 | 11 | 207 | 2011-2019 |
| Keith Arthurton (WI) | 4 | 13 | 241 | 1992-1999 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 4 | 16 | 126 | 2015-2023 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 4 | 22 | 1207 | 2007-2015 |
| Kris Srikkanth (IND) | 4 | 23 | 521 | 1983-1992 |
| Eoin Morgan (ENG/IRE) | 4 | 27 | 672 | 2007-2019 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) | 4 | 33 | 717 | 1992-2007 |
| Shem Ngoche (KENYA) | 3 | 3 | – | 2011-2011 |
| Gerrie Snyman (NAM) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2003-2003 |
| Krishna Chandran (UAE) | 3 | 5 | 38 | 2015-2015 |
| Shafiul Islam (BAN) | 3 | 5 | 26 | 2011-2011 |
| Nicholas de Groot (CAN) | 3 | 6 | 44 | 2003-2003 |
| Chris Old (ENG) | 3 | 7 | 91 | 1975-1979 |
| Imran Tahir (SA) | 3 | 8 | 20 | 2011-2019 |
| Andre Botha (IRE) | 3 | 9 | 84 | 2007-2011 |
| James Anderson (ENG) | 3 | 10 | 15 | 2003-2015 |
| Abdur Razzak (BAN) | 3 | 11 | 44 | 2007-2011 |
| Hamid Hassan (AFG) | 3 | 11 | 53 | 2015-2019 |
| Zaheer Khan (IND) | 3 | 11 | 52 | 2003-2011 |
| Andre Russell (WI) | 3 | 12 | 192 | 2011-2019 |
| Tim de Leede (NED) | 3 | 13 | 223 | 1996-2007 |
| Mohammad Rafique (BAN) | 3 | 13 | 113 | 1999-2007 |
| Martin Suji (KENYA) | 3 | 13 | 68 | 1996-2003 |
| John Davison (CAN) | 3 | 14 | 340 | 2003-2011 |
| Andrew Flintoff (ENG) | 3 | 14 | 263 | 1999-2007 |
| Angelo Mathews (SL) | 3 | 17 | 533 | 2011-2023 |
| Alistair Campbell (ZIM) | 3 | 18 | 281 | 1992-2003 |
| Javagal Srinath (IND) | 3 | 18 | 85 | 1992-2003 |
| Younis Khan (PAK) | 3 | 18 | 349 | 2003-2015 |
| Dave Houghton (ZIM) | 3 | 19 | 567 | 1983-1992 |
| Kennedy Otieno (KENYA) | 3 | 19 | 427 | 1996-2003 |
| William Porterfield (IRE) | 3 | 21 | 627 | 2007-2015 |
| Thomas Odoyo (KENYA) | 3 | 23 | 463 | 1996-2011 |
| Arjun Ranatunga (SL) | 3 | 29 | 969 | 1983-1999 |
| Tamim Iqbal (BAN) | 3 | 29 | 718 | 2007-2019 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 3 | 30 | 426 | 1987-2003 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 3 | 34 | 1100 | 1999-2015 |
| Robert Callender (CAN) | 2 | 2 | – | 1979-1979 |
| Adam Huckle (ZIM) | 2 | 2 | – | 1999-1999 |
| Riaan Walters (NAM) | 2 | 2 | – | 2003-2003 |
| Berend Westdijk (NED) | 2 | 2 | – | 2011-2011 |
| Jacob Esmeijer (NED) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2003-2003 |
| Nuwan Pradeep (SL) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2019-2019 |
| Harilal Shah (EAf) | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1975-1975 |
| Kevin Hurdle (BMUDA) | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2007-2007 |
| Bruce Patterson (SCOT) | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1999-1999 |
| Irving Romaine (BMUDA) | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2007-2007 |
What is a “duck” in cricket, and why is it considered embarrassing for a player?
In cricket, a “duck” refers to when a batsman is dismissed for a score of zero, without contributing any runs to the team’s total. It is considered embarrassing because it signifies a complete lack of runs and an early dismissal for a batsman, especially for top-order batsmen.
Who holds the record for the most ducks in the ICC Cricket World Cup?
Nathan Astle from New Zealand and Ijaz Ahmed from Pakistan share the record for the most ducks in the ICC Cricket World Cup, with 5 ducks each.
Who are some other notable players with multiple ducks in World Cup history?
Several players, including AB de Villiers, Kris Srikkanth, Eoin Morgan, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, have had multiple ducks in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Has any bowler on the list also scored ducks in World Cup matches?
Yes, some bowlers like Imran Tahir, Mitchell Starc, and James Anderson are on the list of players with the most ducks in the ICC World Cup, showcasing that even bowlers can face challenges with the bat.
Who is the player with the most runs on the list despite having multiple ducks in World Cup matches?
Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka is the player with the most runs on the list, with 1100 runs in World Cup matches, despite having three ducks.
Rivcky John
A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.