6 Popular Batsman You Might Not Know Once Got Out For Diamond Duck In ODIs

Diamond duck is a rather rare event in the sport. While it’s common for batsmen to have a golden duck, getting out even without facing a delivery happens on isolated occasions only. The phenomenon is accountable in T20’s where stealing a run is a normal event. However, in ODIs, this can be avoided. Nevertheless, we still have a few cricketers who have got a diamond duck in ODIs.

It can only be sheer bad luck if a cricketer attains a diamond duck. Nonetheless, if there is an issue with the player while running between the wickets, the blame has to be shared. In this article, we check out six popular cricketers who have at least got one diamond duck in ODIs.

1. Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill, the opener from New Zealand is one of the players to have got a diamond duck in ODI’s. This happened in 2013, in the game against South Africa.

Chasing a target of 209, New Zealand had Robert Nicol and Guptill at the crease. However, Guptill was run out even before facing a delivery. Nonetheless, this did not affect the Kiwis as they eventually won the encounter.

2. Brendon McCullum

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has also got a diamond duck in his ODI career. This happened back in 2003, in a game against Team India.

Batting first, the Kiwis did not get off to a good start. Coming in when the score at 130/5, McCullum had to suffer a run-out with Lou Vincent at the other end. New Zealand eventually lost the game.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya

Although he is not known for fitness, in terms of being aware of the game situation, Sanath Jayasuriya was a top personality. However, even the Sri Lankan legend is amongst the list of players who got a diamond duck in ODI’s.

The game was between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh was all out of 152, and Sri Lanka had an easy target to chase. But they were rocked back with an early dismissal. Upul Tharanga and Jayasuriya were involved in a mix-up, and the latter had to be sent back for a diamond duck.

4. Saeed Anwar

Saeed Anwar is one of the best ODI openers that Pakistan has seen. However, not once, but Anwar had to go twice through the embarrassing situation of being out for a diamond duck.

Interestingly, both these occurrences were spread across a period of 13 years. While the first time, it happened in 1989, next, it was in 2002, both against Australia.

5. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting is one of the best cricketers to have been played ODI cricket. The legendary batsman also had to collect a diamond duck in his career.

Back in 2006, Sri Lanka and Australia were playing a game at the Adelaide Oval. The Lankans had put on a target of 275, and Australia was off to a good start. However, after Adam Gilchrist fell, the team had to suffer yet another setback. With Simon Katich at the other end, Ponting was out for a diamond duck.

6. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest cricketers at the moment. Let alone getting run out before facing his first delivery, it is altogether a surprise if the player gets run out. Especially taking the risk without facing the bowler is unlike Virat Kohli.

That said, in the tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in 2010, Virat had to collect the first diamond duck in his career. In the first encounter, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik found themselves in an embarrassing incident. Trying to steal a single, both were not confident, and due to a direct hit by Elton Chigumbara, Virat was out without facing a delivery.