king pair

IPA/ˈkɪŋ ˌpeər/
IPA/ˈkɪŋ ˌper/

king pair — noun

1. In cricket, a very unlucky record where a batter is dismissed on the very first

1.nounC2
Definition

In cricket, a very unlucky record where a batter is dismissed on the very first ball they face in each of the two innings of the same match, meaning they scored zero runs from both attempts.

Example

Mert suffered a king pair in the county final — bowled on the first ball of both innings.

collocation: suffered a king pair

The crowd fell silent when Quan's king pair left his team needing 30 more runs to win.

Common collocations
  • complete a king pair
  • suffer a king pair
  • record a king pair
  • receive a king pair

Usage Note

Only used in cricket. A regular 'pair' simply means zero runs in both innings; a 'king pair' adds the condition that the batter was dismissed on the first ball of each innings — making it a notably worse record.

Common Mistakes

The bowler took a king pair.
The batter suffered a king pair.
A king pair is something a batter experiences, not something a bowler achieves.

Word family

  • pair
    nounC2
  • golden duck
    nounC2
  • diamond duck
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms relate to a batter scoring zero, but they differ in specificity. A 'pair' means a batter scored 0 runs in both innings of a match regardless of how many balls they faced. A 'golden duck' means a batter was out on the first ball they faced — but only in a single innings. A 'king pair' combines both: the batter scores 0 in both innings AND is out on the first ball of each. 'Diamond duck' is even rarer — out without facing a legal ball (e.g., run out before facing a delivery). For everyday cricket talk, 'pair' is the most common; 'king pair' is reserved for that particularly cruel double failure.

pair ↗golden duckdiamond duck

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • suffer a king pair
  • complete a king pair
  • record a king pair

Prepositions

  • pair of (a king pair of golden ducks)

Etymology

English

The term comes from cricket slang. 'Pair' has been used since the late 1800s for a batter scoring zero in both innings — the two zeros were jokingly compared to a pair of spectacles (two circles). 'King' was added later as an intensifier, like 'king-size', to mark the even worse feat of being out on the first ball of each innings. The earliest known written use of 'king pair' dates to the early 2000s in British cricket journalism.