The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Will it be Warne or McGrath?

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Friday, Dec 29, 2006
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Will it be Warne or McGrath?

Melbourne: Will it be Warne or McGrath?

The Ashes might have gone in favour of the Aussies, but the fifth Test in Sydney will decide who among the two will end his career with the second highest number of Test ducks in the history of the game.

Australia's champion bowlers, who retire from Test cricket after the Sydney Test against England at the SCG, will be out to do their best to avoid taking second place on one of cricket's most unwanted rolls of honour.

The duo might be the most potent threat to any opposition with their bowling arsenal, but the regularity of their ducks has always given opposition something to cheer about.

McGrath's duck in Australia's first innings on day three of the fourth Test at the MCG gave the fast bowler 35 noughts in Test matches, one more than Warne, who made 40 not out in the home side's 419.

Warne's record is no better. The master spinner has been dismissed 34 times on zero in 198 Test innings, while McGrath's 35th duck came in his 137th innings.

Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh remains Test cricket's biggest duck collector, with 43 from 185 innings.

However, the saving grace for Warne is that he is the best batsman among the most prolific duck makers, with 11 half-centuries, including a career best score of 99.

Muttiah Muralitharan, most likely to take over Warne's record for Test wickets, with only four ducks behind Warne, is also certain to pass him on the duck ladder.

Most ducks in Tests: Courtney Walsh (43); Glenn McGrath (35); Shane Warne (34); Muttiah Muralitharan (30); Merv Dillon (26); Curtly Ambrose (26). — PTI

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