Pairs in Test and first-class cricket

A pair in cricket refers to when a batsman is dismissed for a duck (without scoring) in both innings. It is called a 'king pair' if the batsman gets out for a golden duck [getting out on the first ball he faced] in both innings.

The name originates from the two noughts together being thought to resemble a pair of spectacles; the longer form is occasionally used.

New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin has been dismissed without scoring in both innings during seven Test matches, three more than any other player. Five players have been dismissed for four pairs of ducks in Tests. Four are bowlers with no great pretensions towards batsmanship – Bhagwat Chandrasekhar of India, Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and West Indians Mervyn Dillon and Courtney Walsh – but the fifth is top order batsman Marvan Atapattu of Sri Lanka. He started his Test career with just one run in six innings – including two pairs – and has bagged two more since. The 14 men who have collected three pairs include Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose and Andrew Flintoff.

As on November 2016 42 batsmen have been dismissed for a pair on their debut in Test cricket:

These unfortunate batsmen all bagged pairs in two Tests in a row.

Ajit Agarkar and Bob Holland were each dismissed for five consecutive ducks, a record they share with Mohammad Asif for Pakistan in 2005/2006.

19 captains have been dismissed for a pair.

Ian Botham's pair came in his last Test as captain while Mark Taylor, Rashid Latif and Habibul Bashar recorded a pair in their first games as captain.

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