Correct: B. 11

A cricket team consists of 11 players, who each take turns batting and can all be required to bowl and field. The team bats in pairs - two batsmen at the wicket at all times - and an innings ends when 10 of the 11 batsmen are dismissed (one bats 'not out'). This 11-a-side format has been the standard since cricket's earliest recorded matches in the 18th century.

Correct: A. 50

In a One Day International (ODI), each team is allowed a maximum of 50 overs to bat, making the format a 100-over match in total. Each over consists of 6 deliveries, so each team faces a maximum of 300 legal deliveries. ODIs were introduced in 1971 and revolutionised cricket by adding a time-limited, result-guaranteed format to the traditional multi-day Test match.

Correct: B. England

Cricket was invented in England, with the earliest definite references to the sport dating back to the 16th century in the Weald of Kent and Sussex. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), founded in 1787 at Lord's Cricket Ground, became the custodian of the Laws of Cricket - a role it maintains to this day. England played the first official Test match against Australia in 1877.

Correct: C. Leg Before Wicket

LBW stands for 'Leg Before Wicket,' a dismissal in cricket that occurs when the ball strikes a batsman's body (usually the pad) in front of the wicket and would have gone on to hit the stumps. The decision involves complex rules regarding the line of the delivery, where the ball pitches, and whether the batsman was attempting a shot.

Correct: A. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar of India is revered as the 'God of Cricket,' widely regarded as the greatest batsman in the history of the sport. He holds the records for the most Test runs (15,921), most One Day International runs (18,426), and most international centuries (100) in cricket history. Tendulkar played 24 years of international cricket from 1989 to 2013.

Correct: A. Scoring zero runs

A 'duck' in cricket refers to a batsman scoring zero runs before being dismissed. If a batsman is dismissed for zero on the very first ball they face, it is called a 'golden duck.' The term comes from the resemblance of the number 0 to a duck's egg.

Correct: D. Three wickets in three balls

A hat-trick in cricket occurs when a bowler takes three wickets with three consecutive deliveries, one of the rarest and most celebrated achievements in the sport. The term originated in cricket in the 1850s, when clubs would award a bowler who achieved this feat with a new hat.

Correct: A. T20

T20 (Twenty20) cricket is the format where each team bats for exactly 20 overs, producing matches that last approximately 3 hours. Introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2003, T20 was designed to attract new audiences who found longer formats inaccessible.

Correct: C. 6

The highest possible score from a single delivery in cricket is 6 runs, scored when the batsman hits the ball over the boundary rope without it touching the ground. However, extra runs can inflate this - if no-balls or wides are added, the total runs from one delivery can technically exceed 6.

Correct: D. A batting turn for a team

An 'innings' in cricket refers to each team's turn to bat, during which they continue batting until 10 of their 11 batsmen are dismissed (or a declaration is made). In Test cricket, each team bats for two innings, while in limited-overs formats like ODIs and T20s, each team has just one innings per match.

Correct: D. 2

In Test cricket, each team plays two innings, giving the match a unique depth and complexity not found in shorter formats. Test matches last up to five days, and a team can win by an innings (if they score more runs in one innings than the opposition scores in both).

Correct: D. England vs Australia - cricket's oldest and most famous bilateral series dating to 1882

The Ashes is the Test cricket series between England and Australia - cricket's most famous bilateral rivalry. The series alternates between England and Australia and the name comes from a satirical 1882 obituary declaring the death of English cricket after Australia's first win on English soil.

Correct: A. The longest format of cricket - played over up to 5 days with each team batting twice

A Test match is cricket's oldest and most prestigious format played over up to five days. Each team bats twice and the team with the highest combined runs across both innings wins. A match can end earlier if one team achieves victory or if a draw is agreed.

Correct: B. A delivery pitched at the batsman's feet at the base of the crease - very difficult to hit and often used as a wicket-taking ball

A yorker is a delivery that pitches at or near the batsman's feet at the base of the batting crease. A perfect yorker goes under the bat making it nearly unplayable. It is one of cricket's most effective deliveries particularly in the final overs of limited-overs matches.

Correct: A. A short-pitched delivery aimed at the batsman's upper body or head - designed to intimidate or force a mistimed hook shot

A bouncer is a short-pitched delivery that rises sharply after pitching to reach the batsman at chest or head height. Its purpose is to intimidate, force defensive shots, or induce hook attempts that may result in a catch. Rules limit the number of bouncers per over to prevent excessive intimidation.

Correct: B. The ICC's flagship 50-over tournament held every four years - Australia has won the most titles with 6

The ICC Cricket World Cup is the 50-over international tournament held every four years. Australia has won the most titles with 6 (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023). The West Indies won the first two in 1975 and 1979.

Correct: D. Runs scored not off the bat - including wides, no-balls, byes, and leg byes

Extras are runs added to a team's total that are not scored off the batsman's bat. They include wides (delivery too far from the wicket), no-balls (illegal deliveries), byes (ball passes wicket without touching bat or body), and leg byes (ball deflects off the batsman's body).

Correct: D. Australia's fortress where they did not lose a Test for 32 years before India's victory in 2021

The Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba) in Queensland, Australia was Australia's fortress - they did not lose a Test there from 1988 until India's remarkable victory in January 2021. India's triumph over the injury-depleted host nation was celebrated as one of the greatest Test victories in Indian cricket history.

Correct: D. An Indian batsman who has scored over 80 international centuries and is considered one of the greatest run-scorers in cricket history

Virat Kohli has scored over 80 international centuries across Test, ODI, and T20 formats - second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 100 centuries. He is India's former Test and ODI captain and is widely considered the best batsman of his generation.

Correct: C. The International Cricket Council - the global governing body for cricket that organises World Cups, maintains rankings, and enforces rules

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the world governing body for cricket. It organises global tournaments including the Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, World Test Championship, and Champions Trophy, and maintains the official player rankings and match referee system.

Correct: A. A delivery following a no-ball where the batsman cannot be dismissed except by a run-out - giving them freedom to attack without risk of dismissal

The free hit follows a no-ball in limited-overs cricket - the next delivery cannot dismiss the batsman by any method except a run-out. This rewards the batting team for the bowling error and encourages aggressive batting on the free hit delivery.

Correct: D. An Australian batsman and captain who is the most successful Test captain in history and one of cricket's greatest players winning three World Cup titles

Ricky Ponting captained Australia to consecutive World Cup victories (2003, 2007) and led Australia through an era of dominance that included long periods as the world's number one Test team. He scored 13,378 Test runs including 41 centuries - second at the time only to Sachin Tendulkar.

Correct: A. A designated phase of overs where fielding restrictions apply - limiting the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle - to encourage attacking batting

The Power Play in ODI cricket refers to designated phases where fielding restrictions apply - only a limited number of fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle. The Mandatory Power Play (first 10 overs) has only 2 fielders outside the circle encouraging aggressive batting.

Correct: D. England defeating New Zealand in the most dramatic finish in World Cup history - tied on runs after regulation and tied on runs after a Super Over - with England declared winners on boundary count

The 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand ended in a tie after 50 overs and was tied again after the Super Over - England were declared winners on the greatest number of boundaries scored throughout the match. It remains the most dramatic finish in World Cup history.

Correct: D. A professional T20 cricket league in India launched in 2008 - the most valuable cricket league in the world and one of the most commercially significan't sporting competitions globally

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional T20 franchise league launched in 2008 by the BCCI. It features teams representing Indian cities using an auction system to recruit both Indian and international players. Its commercial value exceeds $10 billion making it the world's most valuable cricket competition.

Correct: B. An over in which the bowler takes at least one wicket and concedes no runs

A wicket maiden is an over where the bowler both concedes zero runs from the bat (a maiden over) and takes at least one wicket. It combines two of the most valued individual achievements in bowling - dot balls and wickets - in a single over.

Correct: A. The iconic green cap worn by Australian Test players - one of the most famous items of sporting clothing in the world representing the highest honour in Australian cricket

The Baggy Green is the distinctive dark green cap worn by Australian Test cricketers. It is awarded upon a player's Test debut and is considered one of the most treasured items in Australian cricket - worn throughout a player's career as a symbol of national pride and tradition.

Correct: D. The greatest batsman in cricket history whose Test average of 99.94 is so far beyond any other player that statisticians consider it the most dominant individual record in team sport

Don Bradman's Test batting average of 99.94 - he needed just 4 runs in his final innings to average 100 - is so far above the next-best players that it is considered the greatest individual statistical achievement in team sport. He scored 29 centuries in 80 innings.

Correct: D. Day-night Test matches where the traditional red ball is replaced with a pink ball that is visible under floodlights

Pink-ball Test matches (day-night Tests) use a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball because it is more visible under floodlights. Day-night Tests were introduced in 2015 to attract larger television audiences in evening primetime hours.

Correct: C. 100 international centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs - more than any other player in history

Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 international centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs - across a career from 1989 to 2013. He also holds the records for the most Test runs (15,921) and ODI runs (18,426). His 100th century came in March 2012 against Bangladesh.

Correct: A. The designated gloved fielder positioned behind the stumps at the batting end - responsible for catching balls that pass the batsman and effecting stumping dismissals

The wicketkeeper stands behind the stumps wearing gloves and pads. They catch balls that beat the batsman, attempt stumpings (dismissing batsmen by breaking the wicket while the batsman is out of their crease), and take catches from deflections. They are essential to every ball in the game.

Correct: A. Cricket's spiritual home in St John's Wood, London - the home of the MCC and England cricket that hosts Test matches and major finals

Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London is considered the spiritual home of cricket. It is the home of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which was historically cricket's law-making body, and the ground hosts Test matches, ODIs, and major finals including World Cup matches.

Correct: C. The ICC's T20 international tournament held every two years featuring all ICC members - the West Indies and India have been among the most successful nations

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is held every two years and features all ICC member nations. India won the 2007 inaugural edition and 2024, the West Indies won in 2012 and 2016, and England won in 2010 and 2022.

Correct: D. An Australian leg-spinner who took 708 Test wickets - the most by any spinner in history - and revitalised leg-spin bowling that had become almost extinct in Test cricket

Shane Warne took 708 Test wickets - second only to Muttiah Muralitharan's 800 - and is considered the greatest spinner in cricket history. He revitalised leg-spin bowling that was considered too difficult for the modern game and his deliveries were among the most feared in Test cricket.

Correct: B. Being dismissed for zero runs off the first ball faced - the most embarrassing form of duck dismissal

A golden duck is dismissal for zero runs off the first delivery a batsman faces. It is considered the most embarrassing form of duck dismissal. A diamond duck (dismissed for a duck before facing a ball, typically by a run-out) is even rarer.

Correct: C. England's first Ashes series win in 18 years - considered one of the greatest Test series in history with dramatic results across all five Tests

The 2005 Ashes series in England is widely considered the greatest Test series in cricket history. England won 2-1 after four cliff-hanger Tests including England's 2-run victory at Edgbaston - the narrowest margin in Ashes history. It was England's first Ashes win since 1987.

Correct: D. Leg Before Wicket - the batsman is out if the ball strikes their body rather than the bat when it would have hit the wicket provided it pitched in line and the batsman was not playing a shot

LBW (Leg Before Wicket) dismisses a batsman when the ball strikes their body rather than the bat when it would have gone on to hit the stumps. The ball must have pitched in line with the stumps and the batsman must not be playing a shot (or must be struck in line) for the dismissal to apply.

Correct: B. An Indian wicketkeeper-batsman who became India's most successful captain - winning the T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011), and Champions Trophy (2013)

MS Dhoni is an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman who captained India to the T20 World Cup (2007), ODI World Cup (2011), and Champions Trophy (2013) - making him the only captain in cricket history to win all three major ICC trophies. He is famous for his calm decision-making under pressure.

Correct: A. An ICC-organised 50-over international tournament featuring the world's top-ranked teams - sometimes called the mini World Cup

The ICC Champions Trophy is a 50-over tournament featuring the eight highest-ranked ICC full member nations. It is held less frequently than the World Cup (every 4+ years) and features only the top teams creating a more concentrated elite competition.

Correct: D. Scoring 100 or more runs in a Test match innings - taking an average of 200+ deliveries and requiring sustained concentration, technique, and mental strength over several hours

A Test century (100+ runs in a single innings) is considered cricket's most prestigious individual batting achievement. It requires sustained concentration, technical excellence, and physical and mental endurance across hours of batting against varied bowling attacks and changing conditions.

Correct: B. An illegal delivery including overstepping the crease, a dangerous bouncer, an illegal bowling action, or a fielder positioned illegally - resulting in a free hit in limited overs cricket

A no-ball is an illegal delivery. Common causes include the bowler's front foot landing beyond the crease (overstepping), bowling more bouncers than allowed per over, an illegal bent-arm action, or fielders in illegal positions. In limited-overs cricket no-balls result in a free hit on the next delivery.

Correct: A. A Sri Lankan off-spinner who holds the world record for most Test wickets with 800 - taken at an average of 22.72 and a strike rate of 55.0 in conditions both favourable and unfavourable

Muttiah Muralitharan took 800 Test wickets - the most by any bowler in history - at an average of 22.72. His unique bowling action combining exceptional wrist flexibility with off-spin created deliveries that turned sharply in both directions, making him one of cricket's most feared bowlers in all conditions.

Correct: B. Setting the field, managing bowling changes, making tactical decisions about pace and spin, declaring an innings, and providing leadership for all 11 players across multiple days

The cricket captain directs all tactical decisions on the field - setting fielding positions, making bowling changes, deciding when to declare in Test matches, managing Power Plays in limited-overs cricket, and providing psychological leadership across what can be multi-day competitions.

Correct: B. The highest individual score in Test cricket history - scored for the West Indies against England at Antigua in April 2004 over two days of batting

Brian Lara scored 400 not out for the West Indies against England at the Antigua Recreation Ground in April 2004 - the highest individual score in Test cricket history. He had previously held the record with 375 before Matthew Hayden scored 380, then Lara reclaimed it with 400.

Correct: C. A duck means dismissed for zero runs at any point in an innings while a golden duck is dismissed for zero off the very first ball faced

A duck is any dismissal for zero runs. A golden duck is specifically dismissal for zero off the first ball faced. The golden duck is considered the most embarrassing form as the batsman makes no contribution whatsoever before being dismissed.

Correct: D. A right-arm bowling style where the ball is spun with the fingers rotating from off to leg for a right-handed batsman - the ball turns from the bowler's right to left in flight

Off-spin is bowled by a right-arm bowler who rotates the fingers across the top of the ball at release causing it to spin from off to leg for a right-handed batsman. It is the most common spin bowling style at recreational level and can be highly effective in turning pitch conditions.

Correct: C. The first 6 overs of a T20 innings where only 2 fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle - creating maximum scoring opportunity for batsmen

In T20 cricket the first 6 overs are the powerplay - only 2 fielders may be positioned outside the 30-yard circle. The restriction creates attacking conditions encouraging high-scoring batting. Teams typically send their most aggressive batsmen to exploit the powerplay restrictions.

Correct: D. A powerful cross-batted shot played to a full delivery by sweeping horizontally across the line of the ball toward the midwicket or square leg boundary - used against spinners

A slog-sweep is an aggressive shot played against spinners where the batsman sweeps across the line of the ball toward the midwicket region with significan't power. Unlike the conventional sweep (played with more control) the slog-sweep prioritises boundary hitting over placement.

Correct: A. Total runs scored divided by the number of innings in which the batsman was dismissed - the fundamental measure of a batsman's quality

Batting average is calculated as total runs scored divided by the number of times dismissed. A not-out innings does not count as a dismissal - benefiting players who frequently bat in unfinished innings. Test batting averages above 50 indicate an excellent player while above 60 indicates exceptional quality.

Correct: C. A Test cricket ground in Birmingham that has hosted some of cricket's most dramatic matches including the narrowest Ashes Test victory (2 runs in 2005) and India's first Test win in England in years

Edgbaston in Birmingham is one of England's major Test cricket grounds famous for its atmospheric crowd and multiple dramatic matches. It hosted the famous 2-run England win in the 2005 Ashes and has been a particularly challenging venue for overseas sides.

Correct: C. A delivery that reaches the batsman without pitching - typically above waist height is classified as a no-ball while below waist height is a legal delivery that batsmen can hit freely

A full toss is a delivery that reaches the batsman in the air without pitching on the wicket. Below waist height it is a legal delivery that typically favours the batsman as there is no variation of bounce. Above waist height it is called a beamer and is a no-ball.

Correct: D. India won on home soil at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai defeating Sri Lanka in the final - their first World Cup win in 28 years with Dhoni hitting the winning six

India won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. MS Dhoni hit a memorable six off Nuwan Kulasekara to win the match with Sachin Tendulkar watching from the dressing room - fulfilling the collective dream of carrying Tendulkar to his only World Cup.

Correct: C. Leg Before Wicket

LBW stands for Leg Before Wicket and is a method of dismissal in cricket. A batsman is out LBW if the ball hits their body and the umpire judges it would have gone on to hit the stumps.

Correct: A. Test cricket lasts up to five days while T20 is completed in a single evening

Test cricket is the longest format of the game lasting up to five days with each team batting twice. Twenty20 or T20 cricket is a shortened format where each team faces only 20 overs and matches are typically completed in about three hours.

Correct: D. An over in which no runs are scored

A maiden over in cricket is an over in which no runs are scored off the bat and no extras are conceded meaning the batters score zero runs from all six deliveries. Bowling maiden overs is a sign of accuracy and pressure.

Correct: A. A delivery bowled too far from the batsman to be played

A wide in cricket is a delivery bowled outside the area within which the batsman can reasonably be expected to hit the ball. The umpire signals a wide by extending both arms horizontally. A wide adds one run to the batting team's total as an extra and must be rebowled.

Correct: D. Don Bradman's Test batting average

99.94 is Don Bradman's Test batting average widely considered the greatest statistical achievement in any sport. It means he scored just under 100 runs every time he batted in Test cricket. The next best all-time average is around 60.

Correct: A. A cross-batted shot played to leg sweeping the ball along the ground

The sweep shot in cricket is a cross-batted attacking stroke played to a ball pitched on or outside off stump where the batsman gets low and plays the ball along the ground toward the leg side. It is primarily used against spin bowling.

Correct: B. Test cricket lasts up to five days

Test cricket is the longest format lasting up to five days with each side batting for two innings. It is considered the most demanding and prestigious form of the game testing batters and bowlers over an extended period.

Correct: C. Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hosts the Boxing Day Test starting on 26 December each year. It is one of the most anticipated fixtures in Australian cricket with the MCG regularly attracting crowds of 80000 or more.

Correct: C. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka was the first and only bowler to take 800 Test wickets finishing his career with 800 wickets at an average of 22.72. He is the highest wicket-taker in both Test cricket and One Day International cricket combined.