In cricket, you can be a golden, silver, bronze, platinum, titanium or a laughing duck victim

By K.R. Nayar

We have seen many batsmen get out for a duck, but we may not be aware of the type of duck he has fallen for. There is nothing one can do if one, unfortunately, gets out for a duck. But knowledge about the various types of duck, right from a golden to a laughing duck would be interesting.

When South African captain Graeme Smith got out for a golden duck 

No batsman ever wishes to get out for a duck. It’s humiliating because then he makes no contribution as a batsman. But not much can be done if he actually falls for a duck, other than trying harder the next time. However, as a fan of cricket, it is always interesting to be aware of the different types of ducks that exist in cricket. 

As reporters, even if a great batsman gets out for a duck, we talk of his dismissal with a tinge of shame attached to it. A cricketer who gets out for a duck often walks back to the pavilion, head down and dejected, and never with a smile.  The duck has spared no one and even the great Don Bradman’s last innings score was a duck.

The legendary Don Bradman was out for a duck in his last innings 

If one were to be sarcastic about the batsman who got out for a duck, one can always say that he returned to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. There are a few writers who have also mentioned that the batsman got out for a full moon. However, the origin of this term is attributed to a duck’s egg which is oval in shape and resembles the shape of zero (0). 

If a batsman gets out to the first ball that he faces, it is called a golden duck. But very few are aware of other versions such as the diamond duck and the platinum duck. Platinum duck is when a batsman is dismissed off the first delivery of the match on day one. It is also called the Royal duck. On television, we have always seen the cartoon image of a dejected-looking duck trudging ahead of the batsman back to the pavilion if he'd scored a duck. A mention of the type of duck he fell to alongside the cartoon would make it more interesting for the viewers.

There is also diamond duck in cricket when one is out without facing any legal balls. It is called so when he or she is run out from the non-striker’s end or stumped or run out off a wide delivery.  I remember how once Taufeeq Umar  in 2002 against Australia in Sharjah got out for a diamond duck. After Pakistan were bowled out for 59 in the first innings, Australia went post 301 runs. Pakistan began their second innings with opener Imran Nazir playing out the first five deliveries and the sixth delivery was played to Ricky Ponting at point. Umar ran for a single despite Nazir not responding and both ended up at the striker's end. Pakistan were bowled out for 53 in the second innings and lost the match by an innings and 198 runs. 
If a batsman is timed out for taking too long to reach the crease, that is also termed a diamond duck. But if a non-striker gets out to the first ball of the innings without facing a ball, it is called titanium duck.

A batsman who gets out for a duck to the second ball he has faced it's called a silver duck. When Bradman scored a duck in his last innings, it was mentioned as a silver duck.  In fact, if a batsman is out for a third ball duck it is called bronze duck, and this term is hardly used now.
There is also a laughing duck when a batsman gets out for a duck and ends his team's  innings.

When Virat Kohli was out for a duck 

Since there are many instances of a batsman getting out for a duck in both innings, the term 'pair' is popular now, and this term was coined since the two zeros together resemble a pair of spectacles.  When a player gets out to the first ball in both innings. it's a king pair!  When a run is scored in the next innings after being out for a duck in the previous innings, it is called break-a-duck.

There is also a Bombay duck, which is the nickname for Indian allrounder Ajit Agarkar, for getting out for a duck five consecutive times in Test matches against Australia in 1999 and 2000 series together.

So the next time you see a batsman get out for a duck, it would be interesting to judge the type of duck he fell for in the match!