Cricket Quotient — 6

Decay, after all, is not such a bad thing. What follows, thereafter, is regeneration. The West Indians, who once regaled the cricket world with their brand of Calypso cricket, are showing signs of it. With two back to back innings of 450 plus (the second one isn’t over yet) against host India in their backyard is no mean achievement. Darren Bravo, with two consecutive tons, is leading the young, new West Indies’s revival and world cricket couldn’t have been happier to witness the ‘Renaissance’. The process may be slow but the signs are utterly reassuring.

It’s time to field my weekly quiz. I hope it spurs your quest for cricketing trivia. Put on your gears, here comes my five-for. Enjoy!

#1 — In the third Test at The Oval (’36 series), he was hit on the solar plexus by one of Gubby Allen’s fast deliveries. He refused to retire and stayed on to score a defiant 81 for India. Name the player.

#2 — Unlike KS Duleepsinhji, he played a Test for India. However, just like Duleepsinhji, he also became India’s ambassador. Name the player and also the country.

#3 — In 1959-60 India scored its first Test victory over Australia at Kanpur. It came largely because of one bowler who took 14 for 124. Name the bowler.

#4 — Who is joining Team Australia as its first non-Australian cricket coach?

#5 — Who is the youngest bowler to get a five-for in his Test debut?

Answers to the last week’s quiz…

#1 — Graeme Smith. His first century in the fourth innings while successfully chasing a target came at Wellington, New Zealand in Mar.’ 04. He scored 125 not out.

154 not out vs Eng at Edgbaston in Aug. ’08.

108 vs Aus at Perth in Dec. ’08.

101 not out vs Aus at Cape Town in Nov. ’11.

#2 — Polly Umrigar, India’s one of the most versatile players of all time, had scored India’s first double century. He got 223 against New Zealand at Hyderabad in Nov. ’55.

#3 — Hedley Verity, England’s one of the finest left-arm spinner ever, had dismissed Don Bradman on 8 occasions in Test matches. It was only once that Bradman had scored a century (270) in these 8 occasions. Incidentally, Verity is the only bowler to have taken 14 wickets in a single day of Test cricket. It came at Lord’s vs Aus in 1934.

#4 — Sydney Cricket Ground will host its 100^th Test when India will take on Australia on Jan 3, ’12.

#5 — India played its first ‘Home Test’ against England at the Bombay Gymkhana ground from 15-18 Dec.’33. It was a four-day Test.