Stats: Bowlers who ducked-out batsmen most in International Cricket

The centuries-old game of Cricket has witnessed countless legends playing their parts. The sport that began with only the longest format, has evolved to shorter ones called the One Day and Twenty20 Internationals. Beginning with Sir Donald Bradman's incredible average of 99.94 to Muttiah Muralitharan's startling 1347 wickets, we have witnessed uncountable records. Some of those milestones are impossible to achieve at least in the 21st century. But the journey of cricket will go on.

Till date, you have come across many statistics like most wicket takers, most run scorers, most centuries for individuals mentioning the achievements by many. But there is a superb record of ducks that simply goes unnoticed. Many have previously mentioned the number of times batsmen have got out for a duck, combination of batsmen & bowlers producing ducks. But here is something completely different. In this list, we will be looking through the bowlers with most duck scalps! Remember that the highest wicket-taker is not necessary the best duck-hunter.

All statistics mentioned in here have been scrutinized and cross-checked for accuracy. So stay assured that the provided data is totally identical to what the players in question have actually achieved. Find out if your cricketing star makes it to the elite list.

10. Dale Steyn - 114 ducks

The lethality of Dale Steyn is unknown to none. He stormed into the international scene in his own epic way. If that wasn't enough, the 2005-06 home season made him even stronger. With a sublime run up and ability to swing the ball in both ways, he delivers dead accurate fierce deliveries. He is next to unplayable with the conditions in his favor. His wicket-taking celebration is a joy to watch. He also holds the proud record of fastest South African to 100 test wickets. Without a question, he has been a great ambassador of South African Cricket.

The fast bowler with 419 test, 158 ODI, and 58 T20I scalps, is 10th on the list of duck-hunters.

Dale Steyn accounts for a total of 114 duck outs across all three formats of the game as follows:

Tests: 79

ODIs: 26

T20Is: 09

9. Brett Lee - 120 ducks

Brett Lee about to deliver a ball.

He literally flies every time he runs to bowl. His superman-ish bowling action is what lets him trouble any batsman on strike. He announced his arrival in the Cricket World with a dream debut versus India where he picked up 7 wickets. After that he went on to deliver hundreds of match winning performances. He was a member of the core Australian team that nailed the world cup hat-trick. The impact of Lee on world cricket will never be faded.

This speedster has astounding 300+ scalps in both Tests and ODIs. Only from this, one can imagine how effective a bowler he was.

Across all formats, he has sent as many as 120 batsmen back to pavilion without scoring.

Tests: 44

ODIs: 70

T20Is: 06

8. Jimmy Anderson -127 ducks

Jimmy swinging it his way.

He recently registered his name in the history of cricket by surpassing the 500-wicket milestone in tests. Mind you, this is no little achievement. Only two other fast bowlers have managed to hit that elite list so far. Experts predicted him of being "a star in the making" during his debut series and it actually materialized. He doesn't need too much introduction. Just call him the swing-master.

He has 827 International wickets to his name till date which makes him the 7th most wicket taker in the history of cricket. Just two more wickets will propel him to the 6th position.

Jimmy has a total of 127 duck victims across formats as follows:

Tests: 83

ODIs: 42

T20Is: 02

7. Shane Warne -132 ducks

Up in the air - about to spin a mile!

Here is the first spin twist to this list. Being Warney is always difficult except for Warney himself. The amount of spin this leggie produced was insane - totally opposite to his name which resembles the word sane. After all, he was pronounced among the greatest cricketers of the 20th century! If his magical delivery to dismiss Mike Gatting was called "ball of the century", I wonder what the 21th century delivery to bowl Andrew Strauss out would be called. He used to be the nightmare for every batsman during his time. On his day, he would just run through any batting line up.

Being one of the greatest of all time, he has 1001 wickets to his name across the two formats he played. Considering his tremendous success in IPL, I wonder how impactful he would've been with a place in the national T20 side.

Warnie managed to bag 132 ducks throughout his International career as follows:

Test: 102

ODI: 30

6. Shaun Pollock -143 ducks

Pollock delivering with fire in his eyes

..

South Africa was really fortunate to have this prodigy in their national side. He was the best of all sides. Be it bowling, batting or simply fielding, he excelled in all. It's amazing how he managed to be in the top 10 list of most wicket takers of all time while scoring 3500+ runs in both tests and ODIs. He was kind of a player who the captain would love to have even if he scored nothing.

He garnered 829 International wickets throughout his stay and led his team from front to many cherished victories.

Polly dismissed batsmen on duck as many as 143 times across formats as follows:

Test: 71

ODIs: 68

T20Is: 04

5. Chaminda Vaas -147 ducks

Sri Lankan bowler Chaminda Vaas delivers.

He is one of those silent venoms who don't talk much but do the damage. His bowling does the talking instead. Disciplined execution armoured with impeccable swing and seam skills make him the finest fast bowler Sri Lanka has ever produced. In a career that spanned over 15 years, he kept dominating every batsman. As his career progressed, he even honed his batting skills and scored more than 2000 runs in both formats he mostly played.

With 761 scalps, Vass stands tall at the 9th place of the most wicket takers' list and remains an inspiration for the next generation of fast bowlers.

In his fruitful career, the registered 147 international duck-hunts to his name.

Tests: 68

ODIs: 76

T20Is: 03

4. Waqar Younis -148 ducks

Waqar Younis in action.

If there is anything that describes him best, that would be 'sheer speed' and 'dogged determination'. He had the arm of a the real world iron man which could deliver fierce deliveries on every occasion. In the company of Wasim Akram, he made the world fear Pakistan. Such was his reputation that batsmen were uncomfortable facing him. He will always be reminisced in the memories of Pakistan's 90s domination

.With 789 wickets to his name, Younis adorns the 8th place of most wicket takers' list.

In his career, Younis denied batsmen any run on 148 occasions.

Tests: 76

ODIs: 72

3. Muttiah Muralitharan 159 ducks

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowling.

Here is another legendary spinner making it to the elite list. Call him the spin-king. For those who don't know, he is the best bowler the International Cricket has ever seen, at least in terms of wickets. In short, batsman never found a way to play him. Even though he is a human, the spin he produced was alien. If the word unplayable defined anyone best, it would be Muttiah Muralitharan.

He has 1347 International wickets to his name across formats. The number right there is unlikely to be outscored anytime.

In an illustrious career spanning over 18 years, he spun batsmen 159 times to duck.

Tests: 102

ODIs: 56

T20Is: 01

2. Glenn McGrath -176 ducks

Glenn McGrath ready to deliver.

A tall, sturdy and skillful bowler built for fast bowling. That line is just a mere introduction. He was the kind of bowler who would keep hitting his desired length without erring a single time. He was a gifted one who went on to be crowned the highest wicket taking fast bowler in the cricketing history. He, just as Lee was an integral part of the ruthless Australian side and won many matches for the team single-handedly.

Glenn McGrath picked up 949 wickets throughout his career en-route to his crowning as the best.

He accounted for 176 duck outs through his international career as follows:

Tests: 104

ODIs: 71

T20Is: 01

1. Wasim Akram -189 ducks

Akram on his

swing-song

.

Here is the best duck-hunter cricket has ever seen. If Jimmy is the swing master, Wasim is the swing king. If McGrath is the best right-arm fast bowler, Wasim is the best left-arm speedster. He swung the ball unlike anyone else. His swing left batsmen absolutely clueless. They would get out even before getting a opportunity to react. As admitted by his own teammate Waqar, their rivalry(friendly) is what got the most of both.

In a gem of a career, he accumulated 916 wickets and sits quite deservingly at the 5th spot of most wicket taker list.

The super duck-star has shown batsmen pavilion's path for 189 times without even letting them open their innings.

Tests: 79

ODIs: 110