There have always been batters who have entertained and those who haven’t really left much of an impact in the format that still continues to be the headlining act of the sport in bi-lateral series. But at the same time, there have also been those who, despite packing a punch given their longevity and sheer experience, have registered several ducks. Naught that they haven’t been talented; it’s just that dubious records to happen to some who have a lot of talent in them. Such as these names! Let us try and understand the list of batsmen with most ducks in ODIs, which by the way, is a particularly Asian-batter dominated one:
Sanath Jayasuriya- 34 ducks
The name that tops the list of batsmen with most ducks in ODIs is none other than that of Sri Lankan bowler-destroyer Sanath Jayasuriya. The Matara mauler, as he is still very popularly known has, holds the record for most ducks in his one day career. That being 34.
Can you even believe it? Jayasuriya, interestingly, also holds the record for the highest individual Test score ever, it being 340.
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Shahid Afridi- 30 ducks
The big hitter and unabashed six hitting machine of world cricket has taken fans to the la la land in a sense, in scoring no fewer than 30 ducks in what has otherwise been a brilliant career. 30 ducks. Yes!
Besides engaging in malarkey on social media with respect to unfounded and horrendously uninformed views, Shahid Afridi’s statements do actually mirror his inability to get going in one day cricket; the famous batter’s name standing next to 30 ducks in the fifty over limited over format.
However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been an entertainer. When he used to hit the cricket ball, it would remain hit. Right Lala, sayer of awkward things on X, sorry Twitter?
Wasim Akram- 28 ducks
The great Wasim Akram, a giant of the sport and an undisputed legend of swing bowling wasn’t ever a bad bat in one day cricket or Tests for that matter. The fast bowling legend, who shepherded Pakistan during a critical and interesting phase of their cricket alongside Waqar Younis, scaled great peaks with the white ball. A period of time during which he produced magical spells time and again over his 356 ODI-long career. But he also registered 28 ducks which is besides scoring 3717 runs for his country.
He shall always be regarded as an icon of the game and perhaps one of the great gifts of Pakistan cricket to a sport regaled in many parts of the world.
Mahela Jayawardene- 28 ducks
The great, technically correct batter, known for his great volumes of concentration, the man with no fewer than 12,650 ODI runs also has the dubious record of recording 28 ODI ducks. Certainly not something to marvel at where it comes to this otherwise dependable and marvellous rock of Sri Lankan cricket, wouldn’t you reckon?
Lasith Malinga- 26 ducks
Malinga, the man with the cleverly accurate, if also difficult-to-always-pick bowling action registered 26 ducks in ODI cricket, thereby being one of the batsmen with most ducks in ODI’s of all time. With his curly hair and cheerful attitude, Malinga, the king of Yorkers, would mesmerise world cricket fans and rightly so. But maybe not so much where it comes to 26 ducks in the format where the tailender wasn’t perhaps the best, with much due respect.