In the sport of cricket, a duck was something disagreeable that happened to the batsman. On meeting the Fifth Doctor mid-match, George Cranleigh, who was into bat first, admitted that his team was "taking a terrible thrashing" and that he had "made a duck". He did not, however, elaborate further. (TV: Black Orchid)
Behind the scenes[]
It's common knowledge to those who follow the sport of cricket that a duck is when the batsman is dismissed without scoring a single run.