Cricket has always been a game of records, and while batting milestones are usually associated with centuries, half-centuries, and match-winning knocks, there is another side to the sport that often goes unnoticed. Every batter, regardless of experience or reputation, goes through difficult phases where scoring runs becomes a challenge. One of the harshest statistics in the game is getting dismissed for a duck, which means losing your wicket without scoring a single run.
The record for the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History highlights those rare occasions when batters repeatedly failed to open their accounts during a single One Day International series or tournament. While some names on this list belong to legendary cricketers, others represent associate nations where opportunities to play ODI cricket are limited. Regardless of the player’s status, these unwanted records show that even the finest batters can struggle against quality bowling attacks and difficult playing conditions.
List of 10 Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History
10. RP de Groen
RP de Groen starts the list at number 10 for the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. During the 1994/95 Mandela Trophy, he played four matches and batted in three innings. Unfortunately, every innings ended without scoring a run, giving him three ducks. Despite facing only four deliveries in the entire tournament, he failed to open his account. His performance remains one of the shortest yet most unfortunate batting campaigns in ODI cricket and keeps him among the players with the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
9. Abdullah Shafique
At number 9 in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History, Abdullah Shafique endured one of the most disappointing ODI series of his career during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in 2024/25. Entering the series as one of Pakistan’s technically sound opening batters, expectations were high. However, things did not go according to plan. He played all three matches and was dismissed for a duck in every innings, finishing the entire series without scoring a single run. Such a record is extremely rare for a top-order batter and secured his place in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. Despite this difficult series, Shafique has already shown enough talent to remain an important part of Pakistan’s batting lineup and will hope to leave this unwanted record behind in future ODI competitions.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
READ MORE: Top 10 ODI Players with the Most Innings Without a Duck
8. MD Patel
Milind Kumar Patel ranks eighth in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History, although his overall campaign tells a very different story. Playing in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 competition from 2023/24 to 2027, Patel scored an outstanding 931 runs in 27 innings, including one century and eight half-centuries. However, despite being one of the tournament’s leading run scorers, he also recorded four ducks. His statistics prove that a batter can enjoy an excellent tournament while still appearing in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. Patel’s consistency over many matches outweighed his failures, making his record one of the most unique on this list.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 28 | 27 | 931 | 121* | 4 |
7. Shakeel Ahmed
Shakeel Ahmed occupies the seventh position in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History after an inconsistent batting performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. Representing Oman, he played 22 matches and batted in 17 innings, scoring 169 runs. Although he remained unbeaten on 29 in his highest innings, he also suffered four ducks during the competition. His batting performances lacked consistency throughout the tournament, which ultimately earned him a place among the players with the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. Even with those struggles, he continued contributing to his team through his bowling.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 22 | 17 | 169 | 29* | 4 |
6. Greg Chappell
Australian legend Greg Chappell is one of the biggest names featured in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. During the 1981/82 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup, Chappell experienced an unusually poor run with the bat despite his reputation as one of Australia’s greatest batters. Across 14 innings, he scored 248 runs and registered two half-centuries, but he was also dismissed for a duck four times. His appearance on this list highlights how even world-class players can endure difficult periods. While this series remains an unwanted chapter in his career, it does little to diminish his legacy as one of Australia’s finest ODI batters.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 14 | 14 | 248 | 61 | 4 |
5. Wasim Ali
Wasim Ali sits at number five in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History after recording four ducks during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 competition. The Oman batter played 12 matches and managed 173 runs, including a valuable half-century with a highest score of 62. However, inconsistency remained a major issue throughout the tournament, as nearly one-third of his innings ended without scoring. His campaign perfectly demonstrates how a player can produce both impressive and disappointing performances in the same competition. That mixture of success and failure earned him a place in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 12 | 12 | 173 | 62 | 4 |
4. AB de Villiers
Few cricket fans would expect AB de Villiers to appear in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History, considering he is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters ever. During the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, the South African star produced several outstanding innings and finished with 372 runs, including a magnificent century and two half-centuries. Surprisingly, he also registered four ducks during the same tournament. This remarkable contrast shows just how unpredictable cricket can be. Despite those failures, de Villiers still ended the World Cup as one of South Africa’s best performers, proving that even elite batters can feature in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History while still enjoying an excellent tournament overall.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 10 | 10 | 372 | 146 | 4 |
3. Ian Blackwell
Ian Blackwell takes third place in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History following his disappointing performances in Australia’s VB Series during the 2002/03 season. The England all-rounder played ten matches and batted in every game, scoring only 115 runs. His highest score of 43 showed that he was capable of making useful contributions, but four ducks significantly affected his overall record. Blackwell’s aggressive batting style often brought quick runs, but it also increased the risk of early dismissals. His inconsistent campaign ultimately secured his place among the players with the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 10 | 10 | 115 | 43 | 4 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Highest 99 Not Out Scores in ODI Cricket History
2. WK McCallan
Ireland’s WK McCallan is ranked second in the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History after a difficult campaign at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. Across nine matches, he batted eight times and managed only 33 runs, with an unbeaten 20 being his highest score. Unfortunately, half of his innings ended in ducks, giving him a total of four scoreless dismissals during the tournament. Although Ireland produced several memorable performances at that World Cup, McCallan struggled to make an impact with the bat. His disappointing statistics continue to place him among the players with the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 9 | 8 | 33 | 20* | 4 |
1. Junaid Siddique
Junaid Siddique holds the all-time record for the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History. Representing the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 competition from 2023/24 to 2027, Siddique endured an incredibly difficult batting campaign. He played 24 matches and batted in 21 innings, but seven of those innings ended without scoring. He accumulated only 56 runs during the competition, with an unbeaten 13 as his highest score. Although he is primarily selected for his fast bowling, his batting statistics created one of the most unwanted records in ODI cricket. To this day, no player has recorded more ducks in a single ODI series, making Junaid Siddique the holder of the Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History.
| Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Ducks |
| 24 | 21 | 56 | 13* | 7 |
The Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History serves as a reminder that cricket is filled with both remarkable achievements and unwanted records. Even the world’s greatest batters can experience prolonged periods of poor form, while associate nation players often face additional challenges against stronger bowling attacks. Some cricketers on this list recovered to build outstanding international careers, whereas others continued to struggle at the highest level.
Although these statistics may appear disappointing, they are an important part of cricket history. Every record, whether positive or negative, reflects the unpredictable nature of the game. The Most Ducks in a Series in ODI Cricket History continues to be one of the most unusual batting records in ODI cricket and demonstrates that success and failure often exist side by side in international sport.