In the game of cricket, the most important responsibility for a batsman is to stay at the crease and score runs for his team. Usually, batsmen try to strengthen their innings by spending time on the field, but many times in the history of cricket, such strange incidents have been seen where players could not even open their account even after playing long balls. In the year 2026, the issue of Nick Maddinson getting out on zero despite playing 33 balls has once again come into discussion. Let us know about those unique batsmen in the world who have played the most number of balls without scoring runs in Test cricket, in whose name this unwanted record is registered.
Geoff Allott holds the world record for playing the most number of balls without opening the account.
In the history of Test cricket, the unwanted record of playing the most number of balls without scoring a single run is held in the name of former New Zealand player Geoff Allott. During a match played against South Africa in 1999, Geoff Allott fought fiercely at the crease to save his team. He faced a total of 77 balls, but he was not able to score even a single run. He remained at the crease for the entire 101 minutes, but ultimately returned to the pavilion without opening the account. His patient but innings which ended on zero is counted among the most unique records in the history of cricket.
Names of James Anderson and Richard Ellison also included in the list of veterans.
The names of many other great bowlers and batsmen of the world are also recorded in this list. Former great England fast bowler James Anderson comes second in this matter. He faced 55 balls during a test match against Sri Lanka in 2014, but he failed to open his account. Apart from this, in the year 1984, Richard Ellison played 52 balls against India and was out without scoring. At the same time, in 1999, Peter Such faced 51 balls while staying at the crease for 55 minutes against New Zealand, but not even a single run could be added to his account.
Miguel Cummins and a long list of other players
West Indies player Miguel Cummins faced 45 balls in the Test match against India in 2019, but he too was out on zero. Apart from this, the names of legendary personalities like Mike Whitney and Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar are also included in this list, who lost their wicket for zero after playing 42-42 balls in Test cricket. Nick Maddinson, who came into limelight recently, did not open his account against South Africa in 2026 after playing 33 balls. Apart from this, players like Manjurul Islam, Keith Arthurton, Darrin Murray, Ian O'Brien, Trevor Gripper, Heath Streak, Geoff Arnold and Abdur Rauf are also part of this list.