When it comes to the most ducks in international cricket, no player is completely safe from getting out without scoring. Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka had 41 ducks, Courtney Walsh of West Indies faced 54, and England’s Stuart Broad has 49 ducks in his career. This blog takes a closer look at the top 10 most ducks in international cricket (Tests, ODIs & T20Is) and highlights the players who have struggled the most at the crease.
Players Who Faced the Most Ducks in Cricket History
Cricket has seen some incredible highs, but getting out for a duck is part of the game for every batsman. Many legendary players, from Muttiah Muralitharan to Courtney Walsh and Stuart Broad, have faced this unfortunate outcome multiple times. Below, we take a closer look at the players who faced the most ducks in international cricket history, including their matches, innings, and total ducks.
| Player | Span | Matches | Ducks (Tests / ODIs / T20Is) | Total Ducks |
| Muttiah Muralidaran (SL) | 1992-2011 | 495 | 33 / 25 / 1 | 59 |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 1984-2001 | 337 | 43 / 11 / 0 | 54 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1989-2011 | 586 | 15 / 34 / 4 | 53 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 1993-2007 | 376 | 35 / 14 / 0 | 49 |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 2006-2023 | 344 | 39 / 8 / 2 | 49 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1997-2015 | 652 | 15 / 28 / 4 | 47 |
| Daniel Vettori (NZ) | 1997-2015 | 442 | 20 / 23 / 3 | 46 |
| James Anderson (ENG) | 2002-2024 | 401 | 34 / 10 / 3 | 45 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 1984-2003 | 460 | 17 / 28 / 0 | 45 |
| Zaheer Khan (IND) | 2000-2014 | 309 | 29 / 15 / 0 | 44 |
#1. Muttiah Muralidaran: Career Ducks
When talking about the most ducks in international cricket, Muttiah Muralidaran stands out with 59 ducks in his career. He was dismissed for zero 33 times in Tests, 25 times in ODIs, and once in T20Is. Despite being a legendary Sri Lankan bowler, he scored a total of 1,936 runs in international cricket, with a highest score of 67. He didn’t record any centuries but had 1 fifty, showing that even the best players occasionally had memorable batting moments.
#2. Courtney Walsh – Career Ducks and Batting Highlights
West Indies’ legendary fast bowler Courtney Walsh had a total of 54 ducks in his international career. He was dismissed for zero 43 times in Test matches and 11 times in ODIs. Despite this, Walsh scored 1,257 runs with a highest score of 30*, and although he didn’t record any centuries or fifties, his career shows that even the greatest bowlers sometimes faced challenges with the bat.
#3. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sri Lanka’s explosive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya faced 53 ducks in his international career. He had 15 ducks in Test matches, 34 in ODIs, and 4 in T20Is. Despite these low scores, Jayasuriya scored a total of 21,032 runs, with a highest score of 340. He recorded 42 centuries and 103 fifties, showing that while he occasionally struggled, he was still one of the most destructive batsmen in cricket history.
#4. Glenn McGrath
Australia’s legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath had a total of 49 ducks in his international career. He was out for zero 35 times in Test matches and 14 times in ODIs. Despite these low scores, McGrath scored 761 runs with a highest score of 61 and had 1 fifty in his career. These numbers show that while his primary strength was bowling, he occasionally had tough moments with the bat.
#5. Stuart Broad
England’s fast bowler Stuart Broad has faced 49 ducks in his international career. He was dismissed for zero 39 times in Test matches, 8 times in ODIs, and 2 times in T20Is. Despite these low scores, Broad scored a total of 4,309 runs with a highest score of 169, including 1 century and 13 fifties. This shows that while bowling has been his main strength, he has also contributed some valuable runs for his team.
#6. Mahela Jayawardene
Sri Lanka’s elegant batsman Mahela Jayawardene faced 47 ducks in his international career. He had 15 ducks in Test matches, 28 in ODIs, and 4 in T20Is. Despite these low scores, Jayawardene scored a total of 25,957 runs with a highest score of 374, including 54 centuries and 136 fifties. This shows that while he occasionally struggled with the bat, he remains one of the greatest run-scorers in cricket history.
#7. Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori, one of New Zealand’s greatest spinners, is listed among players with the most ducks in international cricket, recording 46 ducks in his career. He had 20 ducks in Tests, 23 in ODIs, and 3 in T20Is. Despite these low scores, Vettori amassed 6,989 runs with a highest score of 140, including 6 centuries and 27 fifties, showing that even bowlers can make significant batting contributions.
#8. James Anderson
With 45 ducks in his international career, James Anderson has faced his share of tough moments at the crease. He recorded 34 ducks in Tests, 10 in ODIs, and 3 in T20Is. Despite this, Anderson amassed 1,627 runs, including a highest score of 81 and 1 fifty, proving that even bowlers primarily known for their bowling can occasionally make significant contributions with the bat.
#9. Wasim Akram
In his illustrious career, Pakistan’s Wasim Akram recorded 45 ducks, including 17 in Tests and 28 in ODIs. Alongside this, he amassed 6,615 runs, with a highest score of 257* and 3 fifties. These numbers highlight that while his main strength was bowling, he also had memorable moments with the bat.
#10. Zaheer Khan
India’s Zaheer Khan recorded 44 ducks in his international career, with 29 in Test matches and 15 in ODIs. Despite these low scores, he scored 2,036 runs, including a highest score of 75 and 3 fifties. This shows that even a bowler of his caliber could occasionally contribute important runs for his team.
Top players with the most ducks in Test cricket
Test cricket is often considered the ultimate challenge for batsmen, and even the greatest players have struggled to score at times. Some cricketers have faced more ducks than others in this format.
The top players with the most ducks in Test cricket include legends like Courtney Walsh, Muttiah Muralidaran, and James Anderson, who, despite their incredible careers, were dismissed for zero multiple times. Let’s take a closer look at these players and their Test duck records.
| Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Ducks (Tests) |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 1984-2001 | 132 | 185 | 43 |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 2007-2023 | 167 | 244 | 39 |
| Chris Martin (NZ) | 2000-2013 | 71 | 104 | 36 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 1993-2007 | 124 | 138 | 35 |
| Ishant Sharma (IND) | 2007-2021 | 105 | 142 | 34 |
Most Ducks in One-Day Internationals: Top Players
One-Day Internationals are known for fast-paced action, but even some of the greatest cricketers have struggled at the crease at times. Legends like Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram feature among the players with the most ducks in ODIs, facing zero 34, 30, and 28 times respectively.
Despite these low scores, these players scored thousands of runs, hit multiple fifties and centuries, and delivered memorable performances with both bat and ball, proving that even the best can have challenging days.
| Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Ducks (ODIs) |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1989-2011 | 445 | 433 | 34 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 1996-2015 | 398 | 369 | 30 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 1984-2003 | 356 | 280 | 28 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1998-2015 | 448 | 418 | 28 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 2004-2019 | 226 | 119 | 26 |
Most Ducks in T20 International Cricket
T20 Internationals are fast-paced and high-pressure, and even top cricketers sometimes struggle to score. Players like MD Shanaka, Soumya Sarkar, and K Irakoze feature among those with the most ducks in T20 International cricket, facing zero multiple times in their careers.
Shanaka tops the list with 14 ducks, while Sarkar, Irakoze, Akayezu, and Bimenyimana each have 13. Despite these low scores, these players have contributed important runs and memorable performances, proving that even in T20s, batting challenges are part of the game.
| Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Ducks (T20Is) |
| MD Shanaka (SL) | 2015-2025 | 114 | 103 | 14 |
| Soumya Sarkar (BAN) | 2015-2024 | 87 | 86 | 13 |
| K Irakoze (RWN) | 2021-2024 | 75 | 56 | 13 |
| M Akayezu (RWN) | 2021-2025 | 95 | 79 | 13 |
| Z Bimenyimana (RWN) | 2021-2025 | 91 | 58 | 13 |
Indian Players with the most Ducks in International Cricket
Even top Indian cricketers have faced tough days with the bat. Among Indian players with the most ducks in international cricket, Zaheer Khan leads with 44, followed by Ishant Sharma (40), Virat Kohli (38), Harbhajan Singh (37), and Jasprit Bumrah (35). These numbers show that even the best occasionally get out for zero, but their overall contributions keep them among cricket’s legends.
| Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Ducks (0s) |
| Zaheer Khan | 2000-2014 | 309 | 232 | 44 |
| Ishant Sharma | 2007-2021 | 199 | 173 | 40 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008-2025 | 550 | 617 | 38 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 1998-2016 | 367 | 286 | 37 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 2016-2025 | 214 | 108 | 35 |
Final Words
Even the best have tough days with the bat, and the most ducks in international cricket show just that. Legends like Muttiah Muralidaran, Courtney Walsh, and Indian stars such as Zaheer Khan and Virat Kohli have all faced zero multiple times. Despite these lows, their remarkable careers and unforgettable performances continue to inspire cricket fans worldwide.
FAQs
1. Who has the most ducks in international cricket?
Muttiah Muralidaran holds the record with 59 ducks across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, followed closely by Courtney Walsh and Sanath Jayasuriya.
2. How many ducks does Virat Kohli have in international cricket?
Virat Kohli has faced 38 ducks in his international career across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
- Which Indian player has the most ducks in international cricket?
Zaheer Khan leads among Indian players with 44 ducks in international cricket, followed by Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli.
4. Who has the most ducks in Test cricket?
Courtney Walsh tops the list in Tests with 43 ducks, followed by Stuart Broad and Glenn McGrath.
5. Who has the most ducks in ODIs?
Sanath Jayasuriya has the most ducks in ODIs with 34, followed by Shahid Afridi and Mahela Jayawardene.
6. Who has the most ducks in T20Is?
MD Shanaka leads T20Is with 14 ducks, followed by K Irakoze and Soumya Sarkar.