Avoiding the duck: Five longest non-duck streaks in Test cricket
In any format of cricket, there is one thing that batsmen don’t like at all i.e. getting out for a duck. Some players have been lucky enough in this regard who go on to play a lot of innings without a duck in between. Recently, Martin Guptill of New Zealand got out for a duck after a long time. His was the second-longest duck streak in T20Is. In this article, we are going to list out the 5 longest non-duck streaks in Test cricket.
Alec Stewart, England: 86 innings
Former English batsman Alec Stewart played 86 innings in a streak without bagging a duck in between. He enjoyed this phase between 17 March 1994 to 28 November 1998. In these 86 innings, Stewart aggregated a total of 3529 runs. In overall tally, he got out for nought 14 times in his Test career.
Allan Border, Australia: 89 innings
The former Australian captain is fourth on this unique list. He managed to score a run for 89 consecutive innings from 26 November 1982 to 2 December 1988. Border scored 4435 runs during this interval. He had 11 ducks to his name in Tests.
Sachin Tendulkar, India : 91 innings
Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, too enjoyed a phase when he didn’t bag a single duck. From 23 July 2008 to November 2013, he did not get out without scoring. The legendary batsman accumulated 4139 runs in the 91 innings without a duck. In total, he got out for zero 14 times in his Test career.
Richie Richardson, West Indies: 96 innings
Richie Richardson of West Indies is on the second spot in this list. He played 96 consecutive innings without a duck in Test cricket from 23 November 1984 to 25 July 1991. In these 96 innings, he aggregated a total of 4153 runs. Richardson got out for a duck a total of 8 times in Tests.
David Gower, England: 119 innings
England’s former captain has the record for the longest non-duck streak in Test cricket. From 28 August 1982 to 26 December 1990, he did not get out for nought even once. He made 5046 runs in 119 innings during this phase. In total, Gower bagged 7 ducks in his Test career.
