Five cricketers who have 1000+ international runs without a duck

Cricket is a sport with many records. Almost every game, records are broken and new records are set. The records category seem to have a never ending list. From big records like most runs and most wickets to petty ones like most no-balls bowled, most not-outs, the list goes on.

There have been a few instances where cricketers have never scored a duck in a particular format, say Test cricket, but have a duck in the one day or T20 format. There are only a handful of cricketers who have scored 1000+ international runs and never recorded a duck in their international career for their country.

Let us take a look at the top five cricketers who have never recorded a single duck in their entire international career.

#5. Herbert Collins

Australian batter Herbert Leslie Collins, who was nicknamed ‘Horseshoe’, played 19 tests for his country. He made his international debut for Australia in 1920 against England at Sydney and played his last test also against England at the Oval in 1926.

In 31 innings, Collins amassed 1352 test runs at a healthy average of 45.06. His highest score of 203 came against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921. Though Collins had a brief international career, he never recorded a duck in his career.

In fact, Collins was thrice dismissed for 1 (all against England). Despite a short international career, Collins was a household name in New South Wales. He played 168 first-class games, from 1909 to 1926, and scored 9924 runs at an average of 40.01.

He also was a pretty decent bowler. His slow left-arm orthodox spin accounted for 181 scalps for New South Wales with 8 for 31 being his best ever figures. For Australia though, he managed to pick up only four wickets.

#4. Brendan Nash

Brendan Nash, who was born in Australia, played international cricket for the West Indies as his father was a West Indian. He made his international debut in a Test match against New Zealand in 2008.

His international career was a short one. He played 21 tests and 9 ODI’s for West Indies. Nash scored 1103 test runs in 33 innings and a meager 104 ODI runs. During his brief international career, Nash never ever recorded a duck with his lowest ever score being 1 on numerous occasions.

He also played county cricket and spent three years with Kent. In one of the games against Gloucestershire, Nash retired hurt on 199* due to a sunstroke when his team was just 21 runs away from victory. It was a successful run chase. Nash’s last appearance for West Indies was in 2011 against India in a test match at Kingston, Jamaica.

#3. Reggie Duff

Reginald Alexander Duff was an Australian cricketer who played 22 tests for his country. He made his test debut against England in 1902 at Melbourne. In 40 innings, Reggie Duff collected 1317 runs at an average of 35.59 with the highest score of 146.

During his short international career, Reggie never scored a duck. He played his last test match against England at the Oval in 1905. Duff was an alcoholic and his cricket was greatly affected by his drinking.

After taking retirement, Duff’s condition rapidly worsened and he died at the tender age of 33. His family was so broke that, his New South Wales colleague Martin Williamson, paid for his funeral.

#2. Jim Burke

James Wallace Burke, who was more famously known as Jim Burke, was an Australian cricketer who represented his country in 24 test matches from 1951 to 1959. In 44 international innings, Burke managed 1280 runs at an average of 34.59 with the best score of 189 against South Africa in Cape Town in 1957.

During his brief international stint, Burke was never out on a duck, though he remained not out on zero in a test match against South Africa. Burke was a curse on bowlers and is famously remembered for his 28 not out in 250 minutes during a test match in Brisbane which also saw Trevor Bayliss’ infamous batting marathon.

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#1. Brijesh Patel

A dashing middle-order batsman, Brijesh Patel made his international debut for India in a test match against England in 1974. Brijesh played 21 tests and 10 ODI’s for India and managed to score 1215 international runs.

In his entire international career, Brijesh Patel was never out on a duck. Brijesh’s only noticeable innings came in Port of Spain, when he cracked an unbeaten 115 runs, which happens to be his only international ton, and was involved in a 205 runs partnership with Sunil Gavaskar. Brijesh last appeared for India at the 1979 World Cup against Sri Lanka.