Top 5: Prominent players who started their T20 career with a duck

It was the fifth Test of the 1948 Ashes series at The Oval in London. Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest batsman to walk grace the pitch, the skipper of the Australian team and playing in his very last Test match, needed just four runs if Australia batted just once to finish with a career average of 100. The World held its breath as Bradman strolled out to bat one last time.

The elegance and grace of his batting had spread word to shores afar but that day wasn't his. Eric Hollies, a leg-spinner, took the most important scalp of his 2323 wickets in First-class cricket that day. He castled Bradman for a two-ball duck. The Australian legend finished his career with an average of 99.94, almost touching invincibility.

There are few ducks in World cricket which had more significance. The number 0 has held a special place in the World ever since its origin, almost as though people are attracted to the number. Ducks in cricket are commonplace but with the glam and bash of T20 cricket arriving, "score quickly or get out" seemed to be the way to go. Ducks in T20 cricket are barely discussed about, and unsurprisingly so. Here, we take a glance at five prominent players who got out for a duck in their debut T20 match.

#5 MS Dhoni: India vs South Africa, Dec 2006, Johannesburg

MS Dhoni was slowly making his name in International Cricket more than a decade ago. His big hitting abilities were already on full display in a couple of scintillating knocks against Pakistan and Sri Lanka (148 in Vizag & 183* in Jaipur) in ODI games. India were still a few months away from the inaugural T20 World Cup, when the to-be-appointed-skipper, Dhoni, made his T20 debut on the tour of South Africa.

It was the only T20 of the series and South Africa had managed just 126. Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Mongia gave India a good start after Tendulkar's departure but a Sehwag run-out saw Dhoni make his debut. Charl Langeveldt, the South African seamer, bowled a fullish delivery on off-stump, that Dhoni tried to dab to third-man.

The ball found the inside edge and cannoned into the stumps to end Dhoni's disastrous T20 debut. India went on to win the match and Dhoni went on to win the World Cup a few months later as skipper of the side.

#4 Mahela Jayawardena: Sri Lanka vs England, June 2006, Southampton

Jayawardena’s T20I debut saw him bag a golden duck

The former Sri Lankan batsman was a pretty good T20 player and finished with an average of 31.76 in the format which included a ton and nine half-centuries. For all his heroics in the format, Mahela Jayawardena started his career with a golden duck.

It was the only T20 in a tour of England for Sri Lanka. Most of the players were playing T20 cricket for the first time and Jayawardena walked in at 75/1 in the 8th over after Lanka were batting first.

Jamie Dalrymple cramped Jayasuriya for room and the Lankan opener glanced it to fine-leg. Jayawardena had called for a run and set off but Jayasuriya sent him back. Ian Bell's throw was accurate and the bowler removed the bails as Jayawardena found himself short. His debut had unfortunately ended in a golden duck, but Sri Lanka did go on to win a thriller.

#3 Younis Khan: Pakistan vs England, August 2006, Bristol

Younis Khan enjoyed a disastrous debut in Pakistan's first match in the format

The legendary Pakistan batsman retired from all formats of the game a few months back but he wouldn't want to be reminded of a disastrous T20 career, save for captaining the side to victory in the 2009 World T20. England had made just 144 batting first at Bristol and Younis Khan walked in after the fall of opener Shoaib Malik's wicket with the score on 23.

Stuart Broad, who had trapped Malik in front, stormed in and bowled a throat delivery. Younis, who was facing his first ball, decided to throw his bat at the bouncer but merely gloved it to the keeper to depart for a golden duck. It was also Pakistan's first T20I match. They went on to win the game courtesy of Shahid Afridi.

#2 Martin Guptill: New Zealand vs Australia, Feb 2009, Sydney

Guptill's debut T20 innings in 2009 lasted just two balls

The explosive Kiwi opener made a mess of his T20 debut way back in 2009 in Sydney when Australia and New Zealand played out a humdinger. Australia made 150 batting first and Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill were New Zealand's opening batsmen.

Peter Siddle, bowling the opening over, angled one into Guptill of the fourth ball of the innings. The opener failed to connect and was adjudged leg before wicket. Guptill had gone for a two-ball duck. The Black Caps opener, however, enjoys a pretty good T20 record till date with an average of 34.73.

#1 Alex Hales: England vs India, August 2011, Manchester

Alex Hales did not have a good start to his T20 career at Manchester in 2011 against India

Alex Hales, the swashbuckling opening batsman from Middlesex, is the second highest run-scorer for England in T20Is, currently behind Eoin Morgan, and is also the only Englishman to smash a hundred in the format Internationally. However, Hales did not have a memorable debut when he played India at Manchester in 2011.

Chasing 166 for victory, debutant Hales strode out to the middle with Craig Kieswetter, the architect of England's 2010 World T20 victory. Hales was known for his attractive stroke play and aggressive approach at the top but none of that came to the fore on his debut as Praveen Kumar had him plumb in front of the wicket off the second ball in the innings.

Alex Hales' dream debut ended with a duck, although England managed to sneak in a win.