What would a batter never want to happen in a match? For most of them, it would be getting out on a duck, i.e., getting out without scoring a run or contributing anything to a team's total. But a special or unplayable delivery by a bowler undoes a batter even when he is on a hundred or a zero. This is a natural part of the game, and today we look at some of the New Zealand batters who got out on a duck the most times in one-day cricket.
1. Daniel Vettori
Number one on our list to feature is Daniel Vettori, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and a left-handed lower-order batter from Auckland. Vettori started playing one-day cricket for New Zealand in 1997 and played until 2015. He played in 291 matches and scored 2201 runs in 183 innings at an average of 17.19 with 22 ducks to his name.
2. Brendon McCullum
At number two, we have Brendon McCullum, a former right-handed wicketkeeper batter and captain of New Zealand. From 2002 to 2016, he played in 260 one-day internationals. He scored 6083 runs in 228 innings at an average of 30.41, with five hundred to his name. He got out on a duck 20 times during his ODI career.
3. Adam Parore
At number three, we have Adam Parore, who was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter for New Zealand from Auckland. From 1992 to 2002, Parore appeared in 179 one-day internationals. He scored 3314 runs at an average of 25.68 and had one hundred. In 161 innings, he got dismissed without scoring a run in a match 19 times.
4. Nathan Astle
At number four, there is Nathan Astle, the right-handed opening batter and a part-time right-arm medium bowler from Christchurch, Canterbury. From 1995 to 2007, he played in 223 matches and scored 7090 runs, averaging 34.92. During his career, he batted in 217 innings and got dismissed without scoring a run 19 times.
5. Stephen Fleming
At number five, we have Stephen Fleming, a former captain, and a left-handed opening batter for New Zealand. Fleming played in 279 one-day matches for New Zealand, where he amassed 8007 runs at an average of 32.41 with eight centuries to his name. He also registered against his name 17 ducks during his ODI career.
6. Martin Guptill
At number six on the list comes Martin Guptill, who is a right-handed opening batter for New Zealand and a current member of the Kiwi team. Since making his debut in 2009, he has played in 198 one-day internationals and has scored 7346 runs at an average of 41.73 with a best score of 237. He has 16 ducks to his name in 195 ODI innings.
7. Tim Southee
At number seven, we have Tim Southee, who is a right-arm fast bowler for New Zealand. Southee has been a part of the New Zealand one-day team since 2008 and has played in 148 matches, scoring 705 runs in 90 innings at an average of 12.36. He has so far registered 12 ducks to his name in his ODI career.
8. Chris Harris
At number eight, we have Chris Harris, an all-rounder for New Zealand during the 1990s and early 2000s. Chris batted as a left-handed batter and bowled right-arm medium. In 250 matches, he scored 4379 runs in 213 innings at an average of 29. He went out without scoring a run in a match nine times during his ODI career.
9. Tom Latham
Tom Latham, New Zealand's current vice-captain and a left-handed opening wicketkeeper batter, is ranked ninth on our list. Since 2012, he has been in the New Zealand one-day team and has played in 114 matches, scoring 3237 runs at an average of 34.80 with six hundreds to his name. He has been out on a duck nine times during his ODI career so far.
10. John Wright
At number ten is John Wright, who was a left-handed opening batter from Darfield, Canterbury. From 1978 to 1992, he played in 149 one-day internationals for New Zealand and scored 3891 runs in 148 innings at an outstanding average of 57.18. He got dismissed on a duck nine times during his ODI career.