What Is the Longest Duck in Cricket History (Most Balls Faced for 0)?
The longest duck in cricket history is 77 balls, faced by Geoff Allott of New Zealand against South Africa in 1999.
He stayed at the crease for 101 minutes without scoring a run — the highest ever in Test cricket.
No player in cricket history has faced more deliveries without scoring — making this the ultimate record of resistance.
📊 Top 5 Longest Ducks in Test Cricket (Most Balls Faced for 0)
| Rank | Player | Balls Faced | Opponent | Ground | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geoff Allott (NZ) | 77 | South Africa | Auckland | 1999 |
| 2 | James Anderson (Eng) | 55 | Sri Lanka | Leeds | 2014 |
| 3 | Richard Ellison (Eng) | 52 | India | Mumbai | 1984 |
| 4 | Peter Such (Eng) | 51 | New Zealand | Manchester | 1999 |
| 5 | Paul Sheahan (Aus) | 44 | England | Lord’s | 1968 |
🏏 Longest Duck in Test Cricket
Geoff Allott created this record during a Test match against South Africa in Auckland in 1999.
He faced 77 deliveries and remained at the crease for 101 minutes without scoring, setting the record for the longest duck in cricket history.
🔥 Match Context
South Africa declared at 621/5, with Daryll Cullinan scoring 275*.
New Zealand were struggling at 320/9, but Geoff Allott and Chris Harris showed exceptional resistance.
This effort helped New Zealand secure a draw, turning a near-certain defeat into survival.
📌 Record Significance
FAQs
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Refer to Best Cricket Records Website ESPNCrickInfo for more such interesting information.