What is duck in cricket
Cricket is a unique sport with its own terminology that has been developed over the years. One unusual term in cricket parlance is the word “duck”. The idea of ‘getting out for a duck’, can be perplexing for people not familiar with the sport. Even though it might sound funny, ‘ducks’ are no laughing matter to batsmen, as it means they have scored zero runs before getting out.
Origins of the Term ‘Duck’
The terminology originates from the term “duck’s egg”, which was used because scoring zero reportedly resembled a duck’s egg. Over time, this rather cumbersome phrase was shortened simply to ‘duck’. While the term ‘egg’ may seem like an unlikely candidate for representing zero in sports, it’s important to understand that eggs have long been a symbol for nothing or zero due to their round and hollow nature.
The Birth of a Cricket Term
In any cricket game, when a batter fails to score and gets put out before they’re able to make even one run, it is referred to as getting dismissed for a duck. This term applies across all forms of cricket from Test matches through One Day Internationals (ODIs) to Twenty20 International matches.
Variations of Duck in Cricket
Apart from just plain ‘duck’, there are several variants on how this unfortunate event is described in cricket terms.
Golden Duck
A batsman who gets out on his first ball faced without scoring any runs has committed what is known as a golden duck. This name signifies that not only did he fail to score any points, but also that he fell at the earliest possible opportunity – adding injury to insult , so to speak.
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Diamond Duck
A Diamond Duck refers to when a player is dismissed without facing any deliveries at all! It’s a very rare occurrence, limited to situations where the player might be run out before they get the chance to face a ball.
Pair
In cricket terminology, ‘pair’ refers to when a cricketer is dismissed for a duck in each innings of a two-innings match. So not only did they fail to score any runs, but also did it twice within the same match.
The Paradox of Ducks in Cricket
While making ducks may distress batsmen, it simultaneously makes bowlers highly satisfied as dismissing opponents without them scoring against can greatly enhance their team’s prospects in a game. Such are dualities present in a sport like cricket.
The Humour and Irony Of Duck-outs
Another fun aspect of ducks is that despite providing such disappointing results for batsmen, they often result in some funny and entertaining moments for spectators. The reaction of crowd after seeing an accomplished batter being ousted for zero runs cannot be described in words alone. It has to be witnessed personally to appreciate it fully.
To wrap up our discussion about what duck means in cricket, while it may seem amusing or trivial, getting out for a duck is no insignificant feat for batmen. A poor performance at the crease could mean dismissal from the team or even an end to one’s career if done repeatedly. Like every other ball game, cricket too has its set of terms and terminologies which add colour and depth to this loved sport and ‘duck’ is one such colourful term!
