Aaron Finch became the first captain to be out for a golden duck in World Cup knock-outs. The Australian skipper achieved the unfortunate record after he was dismissed for a first-ball duck during the AUS vs ENG semi-final encounter in ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2019. Finch is also the only Australian skipper after the great Allan Border to be out for a golden-duck in World Cups history. Australia vs England Live Cricket Score of ICC World Cup 2019 Semi-Final Match.

Only three players other than Finch have been dismissed for a duck in the knock-out history of World Cups. But Finch became the first of them to be out for a golden duck. Brendon McCullum was the last player to be dismissed for a duck in a knock-out game at the World Cup. McCullum – then New Zealand captain – was clean bowled by Mitchell Starc on his third delivery in the opening over of the 2015 World Cup final. Australian won the game by six wickets. Watch Video: Steve Smith Misses Century! Jos Buttler's Stunning Throw Ends his Knock.

An Unfortunate Record For Finch

This was the 32-year-old’s fifth first ball duck in his ODI career and 11th duck overall. Interestingly of those 11, five have come against England. Finch has also been dismissed for a duck thrice in the past one-year ever since he became the Australian ODI captain. Two of those came in the last bilateral series against India before CWC 2019. This was also the first time Finch has been removed for a duck in his World Cup track record. Joe Root Overtakes Ricky Ponting for Most Outfield Catches Taken in Single World Cup Edition.

The right-hander opening batsman was caught plumb in front of the wicket (LBW) by Jofra Archer in just the second over the game. Archer removed Finch in his very ball – it was also the first delivery Finch was facing – after Chris Woakes had gone for just four runs in his first over to David Warner. The ball was a back-of-length delivery that came back into Finch, who was looking to defend but was slow in landing his bat. The Aussie skipper reviewed the out decision but couldn’t change it as replays showed that the ball would have clipped the top of the middle stump.

Bob Willis of England was the first ever captain to out for a duck in a knock-out game at the World Cup. Willis was cleaned-up by Indian skipper Kapil Dev for a two-ball duck in the 1983 World Cup semi-final. Mohammad Azharuddin was the second captain to achieve the record being dismissed for a duck in the semi-finals. His record came against Sri Lanka in the 1996 edition of the World Cup.  Finch is the now third captain to be dismissed for a similar score but the first to record a first ball duck.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2019 08:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).