Getting out without scoring, known as a duck, is every batter’s nightmare. But what if a player stays at the crease for over an hour, faces dozens of balls and still doesn’t score a single run? That’s exactly what happened in one of the strangest innings of cricket.
Back in 1999, during a Test match between the national cricket teams of New Zealand and South Africa in Auckland, tailender Geoff Allott created a record that still stands today. Batting at number eleven, Geoff Allott stayed on the pitch for nearly an hour and a half, faced 77 balls and yet didn’t score a single run before getting out.
It may sound odd but this unusual innings turned out to be incredibly important. His determination and patience frustrated the South African bowlers and helped New Zealand avoid defeat. Sometimes, survival matters more than scoring and Geoff Allott proved that perfectly.
Earlier in the match, South Africa had dominated. They declared their first innings at a massive 621 for 5, with Daryll Cullinan scoring a brilliant 275 and Gary Kirsten adding 128 runs. In reply, New Zealand managed 352 and were forced to follow on.
In their second innings, the hosts batted carefully and reached 244 for 3 on the final day, ensuring the match ended in a draw. Geoff Allott’s long stay at the crease earlier had already played a key role in tiring out the opposition and buying valuable time.
Geoff Allott, primarily a left-arm medium pacer, had made his international debut in 1999. Though not known for his batting, he represented New Zealand in 10 Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals, taking 19 wickets in Tests and 52 in ODIs.
His score of zero might look forgettable but the story behind it is anything but ordinary.
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