What is a King Pair? King Pair Betting Explained
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
19/04/2026
A King Pair is a cricket term used in the Test match format and refers to a batsman who is dismissed for no runs with the first ball they face in both innings of the match.
A batsman who is dismissed without scoring is said to be out for a duck and if the dismissal comes from the first ball the batsman faces, it is a golden duck. When a batsman who was out for a duck returns to the crease in the second innings, they are said to be ‘on a pair.’
To be dismissed for another golden duck is to record a king pair.
Our Top Cricket Betting Providers
Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win
+10
- 20+ sports available for wagering
- Pre-match and in-play betting
- Unique features like live streaming and boosted odds
up to 100€ Bet Credits
Find out more on bet365's website
- Over 20 sports
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting feature
New Users – Bet $5 Get $150 If Your Bet Wins!
+8
- Deep market coverage across major U.S. sports and leagues
- Same Game Parlay builder is fast and easy to use
- Live betting interface updates quickly with real-time odds
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
+8
- Bet on 40+ different sports
- Dynamic odds on live, in-play fixtures
- Deposit and bet $5 to receive up to $300 in bonus bets
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
+8
- 100% match on your first bet up to $250
- Bet on the official website or native mobile app
- Explore thousands of daily betting markets with competitive odds
How is King Pair used in Sports Betting?
To dismiss a batsman twice for no runs from the first ball bowled is a significant achievement for the bowling team and will have a major effect on the in-play betting for the rest of the match, and possibly impact future cricket betting markets, as it may call into question that player’s place in the team for upcoming matches.
Betting markets specifically for a king pair are rare, but run markets are common among sportsbooks. Betting on the top team batsman or top team bowler both come into the equation for a king pair, as a batsman dismissed for a king pair is out of the running for the former. If the same bowler dismisses the batsman each time, they are a contender for top team bowler having taken two wickets.
Over/under markets are also effected as it is possible to bet on a specific batsman - Joe Root, for example - to score over or under a set number of runs in an innings or a match. If Root was dismissed for a king pair, bets backing under the set figure would be successful.
Did you know…
The king pair is known as the worst of all batting fates a player can achieve and so far, this unwanted feat has been recorded 21 times in the history of test cricket.
The most recent player a king pair has befallen occurred in July 2018 when Bangladesh batsman Nurul Hasan who was dismissed for zero from the first ball in both innings against the West Indies.
