A batter would cherish a record like having no ducks in his career; however, this seems quite improbable for many players. There are some players who have the humiliating record of scoring the most ducks during their careers, while others have the exceptional record of scoring the fewest ducks during their careers. In this article, we will look at some of the English players who have played the most Test innings before being dismissed for a duck.
1. James Anderson
At number one on our list, we have James Anderson, who is primarily a right-arm fast bowler who bats as a left-handed lower-order batter. Anderson played his first Test match in 2003. Until 2009, he had batted in 54 innings and had never been dismissed on a duck. However, after 54 innings in a Test match against Australia at The Oval, he got dismissed on a duck for the first time in his Test career.
2. Geraint Jones
At number two on our list is Geraint Jones, who was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter for England. In 2004, he played his first Test match against the West Indies at St. John’s. In a Test match against Australia in Perth in 2006, he was dismissed for a duck for the first time in his Test career. He did not score a duck in his first 51 Test innings.
3. Ollie Pope
At number three, we have Ollie Pope on our list, who is a right-handed top-order batter for England in Test cricket. Pope made his Test cricket debut in 2018 against India at Lord’s. For the first time, he was dismissed without scoring a run in a Test innings in 2022 against India at Edgbaston. He did not score a duck in his first 47 Test innings.
4. Paul Collingwood
At number four, there is Paul Collingwood, a right-handed middle-order batter, and a former England captain. Collingwood made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2003. He was dismissed for a duck for the first time in his Test career after 45 innings in a Test match against India at Lord's in 2007.
5. Alec Stewart
Alec Stewart, a former right-handed wicketkeeper batter for England, is ranked fifth on the list. Alec was first seen playing for England in Test cricket in 1990 against the West Indies at Kingston. In 1993, in a Test match against India at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, he got out without scoring a run in a Test innings for the first time after 40 innings.
6. Alastair Cook
At number six, we have Alastair Cook, a former England Test captain and their most successful opening batter in Test cricket. Cook played his maiden Test in 2006 against India at Nagpur. After 39 innings of Test cricket, he was dismissed for a duck. This happened in 2007 in a Test match against Sri Lanka at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.
7. Jim Parks
At number seven, we have Jim Parks, a former right-handed wicketkeeper batter from Sussex. Jim made his Test debut against Pakistan in Manchester in 1954 and played in Tests until 1968. He got dismissed for a duck for the first time in a Test match in 1965 against South Africa after playing in 36 innings.
8. Bob Barber
Bob Barber, a former left-handed batter, and right-arm leg-break bowler, is ranked eighth on our list. From 1960 to 1968, Bob played in a total of 28 Test matches for England and scored 1495 runs. His first dismissal for a duck in Test cricket came after 36 innings in a Test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in 1966.
9. Wilfred Rhodes
At number nine, we have Wilfred Rhodes, who played as a right-handed batter and bowled slow left-arm orthodox. In 1899, he made his Test debut against Australia at Nottingham. After 31 innings, he was dismissed for a duck for the first time in Test cricket against Australia in Melbourne in 1908.
10. Geoff Pullar
At number ten, the player to feature on our list is Geoff Pullar, who was a left-handed opening batter for England. From 1959 to 1963, he played in 28 Test matches and scored 1974 runs at an average of 43.86. For the first time in a Test match, he was dismissed without scoring a run in an innings against Pakistan in Lahore in 1961.