Cricket Quiz - 3! A Protea Special!

1) X is the term used in the United Kingdom to refer to a domestic league cricketer, on whom, any quotas setting maximum numbers of such foreign players in teams are deemed illegal under EU law. This term, which has obtained its name from the rule known as X ruling, has allowed English county cricket clubs to employ the services of a multitude of overseas cricketers. What is X?

2) The name calamari is given to Mediterranean dishes involving squid, and it is a popular food in many parts of the world. The cricketer X was involved in what is probably the most bizarre stoppage in the history of cricket, when 'calamari stopped play'. X bowled to Daryll Cullinan, who hit the ball for six, straight into a pan of frying calamari in a kitchen (according to Wisden). Even after ten minutes the bowler couldn't grip the ball, and eventually it had to be replaced. Who?

3) The cricketer X, who was known as Vinnige Fanie by his fans, was a judge in the 1995 Miss World pageant in Sun City. In 2003, renowned cricket writer Trevor Chesterfield published a biography of X entitled X: Portrait of a Test Bowler. ID X.

4) X suffered from epilepsy. When he helped Kerry Packer start World Series Cricket signing up many of English, West Indian and Pakistani cricketers, a move which cost him the captaincy of England, and a number of commentators ridiculed him, questioned his judgment in the matter and speculated that epilepsy impaired his ability to make decisions. After that, X was offered a "job for life" by Packer as a commentator during Nine's cricket coverage. Who was the cricketer X?

5) Finally, a sitter for some Biz enthusiasts :)
X is a stadium in South Africa, which was renamed to its present name after the leading sports provider in South Africa, Y, bought shares in the stadium. It is the home ground of the Titans Cricket Team, formerly known as Northern Transvaal. ID X and Y.

A tribute to the GOD!

25th June 1983 – Perhaps the most significant moment in India’s cricket history. The historic significance of that day is known to everyone of us. It brought about a drastic change in the way the game is perceived in the nation, and it was the first real reason for cricket becoming a rage among the masses. But six years later, the 15th of November turned out to be a red-letter day for not just Indian cricket, but the whole world of cricket.

A tiny bloke, barely sixteen years of age, with full of curly hair, made his international debut in a Test against archrivals Pakistan at Karachi. None in their wildest dreams would have expected him to become what he is today. Since then, he has enraptured billions around the world with his ineffable strokeplay. He is a phenomenon. He is a god himself to many. He is the little master. He is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar has been the most complete batsman of his time. His batting is a blend of perfect balance, immaculate technique and impeccable stroke-making. He is one person who is capable of bringing his whole nation to a standstill. When he enters the wicket, there arises an unprecedented silence full of prayers of a billion people, the TRP ratings of the TV channels soar to unimaginable levels, and the whole burden of a billion people rests on his small shoulders.

The Bloody Beginning:

In the final test of his maiden international series in Sialkot, he was hit on the nose by a bouncer, but he declined medical assistance and continued to bat even as he gushed blood from it. The pace trio of Imran, Wasim and Waqar dealt him with contempt, and tested him by dishing out innumerable blows to his body. The way in which Sachin handled them made everyone sit up and take note of the Mumbaikar. This tour showcased the underlying grit and determination that betrayed that tiny frame of his.

On the 16^th of December 1989 at Peshawar, a legend was born. It was not in the original plan to include Sachin for the ODI leg of the tour, but he played since it was an unofficial match, and Kapil Dev was nursing a stiff neck. Eighteen deliveries changed everything. In that time he made an unbeaten 53, and in the process, tore apart Abdul Qadir for 27 runs in a single over, with three sixes in a row. The then captain, Kris Srikkanth, told referring to the one-day series, "The little bugger must play now." The little bugger has been playing ever since that day.

When Merv Hughes told Allan Border, “This little prick's going to get more runs than you, AB.” in Sachin’s first tour Down Under in 1991-92, fear showed up in the burly Australian’s words. Sachin’s ton at the fast and bouncy WACA track, is perhaps the best innings of his lifetime as told by the master himself. He has ever since remained an egregious thorn in their flesh indeed. His most memorable performances have come predominantly against Australia, the most dominant and feared team of his era. He holds almost every record in the book. He holds the record for the maximum number of Test and ODI runs and centuries. His records are monumental, and it is unlikely that his aggregate of 30000+ International runs will ever be surpassed.

He is renowned for his picture-perfect straight drive, often completed with no follow-through. Sir Donald Bradman, considered by many the greatest batsman of all time, considered Tendulkar to have a batting style similar to his. In his biography, it is stated that "Bradman was most taken by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and shot production, and had asked his wife to have a look at Tendulkar, having felt that Tendulkar played like him. Bradman's wife, Jessie, agreed that they did appear similar."

What makes this man so special and adorable? Well, everything about him. He is a perfect role model if you were ever looking for one. He has his head firmly on his shoulders in spite of all his towering achievements. The best part is that, he is still hungry for a lot more. Nothing means more to him than representing his country in what he does best – play cricket. For a person like him, no praise is ever enough. After twenty long years in the game, he still continues to live in a bubble unperturbed and unaffected by controversies and just lets his bat do the talking. Sometimes, all this makes you wonder – Is He Human?

"I have seen God. He bats at number 4 for India in Tests."- Mathew Hayden.

Cricket Quiz - 2

1. It is very well known that the great Don has the world record for the most number of aggregate runs in a bilateral test series with a mammoth 974 in the 1930 Ashes. Who holds the corresponding record for a bilateral One-day International series?

2. Connect.


3. Tests:-

ODIs:- X and Y.
ID X,Y.

4. Who is the only cricketer to score a double century in One-Day Internationals?

[Chuck this question now.. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar rocks :) ]

5. Which famous rockstar once quipped, "I want to play cricket. It doesn't seem to matter whether you win or lose."??
Hint :- With insomnia, nothing is real. Everything is far away. Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy. ;-)

My first Cricket Quiz!! :)

1. Put fundae about the following partnerships in Test Cricket. :)
i. Warne - Mark Taylor
ii. Kumble - Dravid
iii. Warne - Hayden

2. This made its debut in cricket, in June 1991 in the NatWest Trophy game between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire at Bishops Stortford. But we came to know of this currently defunct entity in cricket much much later. What am I referring to here?

3. Put fundae..

Hint :- This is a WORLD-FAMOUS quote about a truly world-class player, and think what's AB doing here! :)

4. This occured for the first time in Test Cricket in the England vs Zimbabwe test match from Dec-18 to 22, 1996 at Bulawayo. What is its significance? Put fundae..

5. Now, an absolute sitter to end the quiz! :)

X, in his autobiography, Out of My Comfort Zone, states that his teammate Y had noticed that Z had developed a habit of celebrating a wicket by throwing the ball in the air prematurely after taking catches, and instructed his colleagues not to leave the crease too quickly if they happened to be caught by Z.

ID X, Y and Z, and put fundae why X says this. :)