England vs South Africa Quiz

To *celebrate* South Africa's series win over England here is a topical cricket quiz on England vs South Africa test series.

Please don't post the answers on this thread (i'll do that when the time is right) - if you want to enter the competition then PM your answers to me. Also, please don't cheat and look up all the answers on cricinfo - anyone can do that but its no fun! Finally, don't come crying to me if i've got the questions / answers wrong!

So here it is:

England vs South Africa quiz

1) Who has scored the most runs in England vs South Africa contests?

2) Who has taken most wickets in England vs South Africa contests?

3) How many wickets did Sydney Barnes take in England’s 1913-14 tour of South Africa in his 4 appearances?

4) Currently Graeme Smith has 1,306 runs in Eng vs SA series at an average of 59.36. Who are the only two batsmen with a better average? (minimum 1,000 test runs)

5) In South Africa’s previous Test series win in England in 1965 who scored the crucial 125 off of 145 deliveries at Trent Bridge for the South Africans?

6) Which of these players has taken the most catches in England vs South Africa tests?
a) Steven Rhodes b) Jonty Rhodes or c) Wilfred Rhodes

7) South Africa’s 1970 tour of England was cancelled because of the Basil D’Oliveria controversy. But who were the 5 South African players who ended up still playing against England that summer under the guise of the Rest of the World team?

8a) Who said about a Test in South Africa: “I have never walked on to a cricket field in such a disgraceful, self-induced state of disrepair as I was that last morning. I had already thrown up in the dressing room and I felt so bad I wasn't sure whether I had a hangover or was still drunk.”
b) And what did this player end this day by doing?

9) Who owns the following England vs South Africa figures:
a) 29* (235)
b) 5-75 & 5-145
c) 180 (248)
d) 0 & 0, 0-63

10) Which South African had a hat-trick in a Test Match against England erased from the record books?

11) What was unusual about the selection of Aubrey Faulkener, Ernie Vogler, Reggie Schwarz and Gordon White for South Africa in the Test against England in 1905?

12) What record is held by the 5th Test between England and South Africa in 1939, the final test played before the outbreak of WW2?

13) What was Paul Adams’ highest First Class score before his crucial innings of 29 made against England in the decisive Test in the 1995/6 series?

14) Fill in the gaps:
“On the match itself, Atherton said yesterday: “It would have been nice if it had been a five-match Test series,” although this is not necessarily a view shared by his bank manager. Of all the statements issued during Atherton’s troubled month, his bank statement would be comfortably the most interesting. Two consecutive trips to London have cost him £4,300 – £2,000 over the ***** *******, £1,500 for ******* *******, and £800 when the England team were yesterday fined 30 per cent of their match fee for **** **** *****. The latter cost the South Africans, who earn less, £450 each, but Atherton’s debit column is such that he will probably opt for amateur status for the two Texaco Trophy matches this week, and go on the scoreboard as Mr MA Atherton. No wonder he cancelled his Pall Mall restaurant dinner after being fined on Friday night – he probably only had enough money left for a bag of chips.

1) and 2) and 4) ... is this, like, EVER?

4) is this on either side, or Saffies only?

1 & 2) Yes, EVER. Since time began.

But I'll narrow it down and say that they played within the last four centuries.


4) On either side

14) Does each of the stars corespond to a letter?

PeterCS wrote:14) Does each of the stars corespond to a letter?

Yes.

I realise that without the usual research, I would be shooting entirely in the dark on most of these, Gaz.

So not much point in me competing in a formal quiz (PM and scores totalled).


I always hope there wil be a quiz like > this < - where you are allowed to look, but won't easily find.

Otherwise, it's only worth my while repeat-punting as with skully's teasers - deferring gratification is not my strength anyway - ... shorta cheating, of course.

Looks a good quiz though.

For the Wallys, Allan Donalds, pertergs and such serious puzzle-crackers with memories like elephants, and statistical enthusiasm to match.

Well I tried to make it a bit easier than the last quiz, but put a couple of tougher ones in to mix things up a bit.

The last question will probably be the hardest - to get the exact wording, so i'll award marks for how close people get, probably in a completely arbitrary and unfair manner.

I'm doing it now but its utter guesswork and that accounts for not getting many right

Good stuff.

Well i'm off to bed now, but i'll look at people's answers next time i'm on...

Sent. Good quiz. Certainly made me think.

Sent. More in craze than hope.

Got PeterCS, JKLever, JGK, PearlJ and some of Taipan's answers.

Some very good answers, and JKL's answer to 8b made me chuckle!

I'll keep it open for a couple more days incase anyone else fancies go...

I sent mine in more in apology for being so churlish in my first reply.

I expect about 0.5/14!

Nah, you've done alright Peter. You got one of the questions right which everyone else has got wrong so far - though I think luck might have played a part there!

I just kept saying the one name ... was bound to answer one of the questions

Sent. Qunt.

Here's a question for you, Gary.

What's unusual about the number of Tests SA and Pakistan have ever played?


THAT's the sort of question number 1 that would lure in more punters!

THEN you hit em with the bouncers.

Against each other or in their entire history?

entire

Dunno. They've played the exact same number?

Yup - as Q I hope implied! l@@ky here


Not entirely surprising which two countries have played most ODIs .... though perhaps a slight surprise at them pipping Oz.

I'm assuming figures are up to date. Maybe assuming a lot.

Any more for any more?

Any more takers? I'll post the answers tomorrow...

So, the answers are...

Gary 111 wrote:To *celebrate* South Africa's series win over England here is a topical cricket quiz on England vs South Africa test series.

Please don't post the answers on this thread (i'll do that when the time is right) - if you want to enter the competition then PM your answers to me. Also, please don't cheat and look up all the answers on cricinfo - anyone can do that but its no fun! Finally, don't come crying to me if i've got the questions / answers wrong!

So here it is:

England vs South Africa quiz

1) Who has scored the most runs in England vs South Africa contests?
Bruce Mitchell (2,732)
2) Who has taken most wickets in England vs South Africa contests?
Shaun Pollock (91)
3) How many wickets did Sydney Barnes take in England’s 1913-14 tour of South Africa in his 4 appearances?
49 - he fell out with the management so refused to play the fifth test!
4) Currently Graeme Smith has 1,306 runs in Eng vs SA series at an average of 59.36. Who are the only two batsmen with a better average? (minimum 1,000 test runs)
Wally Hammond, 2188 runs at 62.51 & Jack Hobbs, 1,562 runs at 60.07
5) In South Africa’s previous Test series win in England in 1965 who scored the crucial 125 off of 145 deliveries at Trent Bridge for the South Africans?
Graeme Pollock
6) Which of these players has taken the most catches in England vs South Africa tests?
a) Steven Rhodes b) Jonty Rhodes or c) Wilfred Rhodes
Wilfred Rhodes!
7) South Africa’s 1970 tour of England was cancelled because of the Basil D’Oliveria controversy. But who were the 5 South African players who ended up still playing against England that summer under the guise of the Rest of the World team?
Barry Richards, Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Peter Pollock & Mike Proctor
8a) Who said about a Test in South Africa: “I have never walked on to a cricket field in such a disgraceful, self-induced state of disrepair as I was that last morning. I had already thrown up in the dressing room and I felt so bad I wasn't sure whether I had a hangover or was still drunk.”
Darren Gough
b) And what did this player end this day by doing?
Hitting the winning runs (but only after Nasser had made him bowl 10 overs on the bounce that morning as a punishment)
9) Who owns the following England vs South Africa figures:
a) 29* (235) - Jack Russell (batting with Athers who got 185*)
b) 5-75 & 5-145 - Makhaya Ntini at Lords in 2003
c) 180 (248) - Marcus Trescothick at Johannesburg, one of the finest innings of the last 20 years
d) 0 & 0, 0-63 - Gavin Hamilton - it was his only Test
10) Which South African had a hat-trick in a Test Match against England erased from the record books?
Eddie Barlow - playing for the Rest of the World team in 1970 which had its Test status revoked.
11) What was unusual about the selection of Aubrey Faulkener, Ernie Vogler, Reggie Schwarz and Gordon White for South Africa in the Test against England in 1905?
All four where googly bowlers (the new craze at the time)
12) What record is held by the 5th Test between England and South Africa in 1939, the final test played before the outbreak of WW2?
The longest Test ever- 10 days & 2 rest days - it still wasn't long enough as England had to leave 50 runs short of victory - the boat to take them home wouldn't wait any longer! Also accepted most aggregate runs in a Test.
13) What was Paul Adams’ highest First Class score before his crucial innings of 29 made against England in the decisive Test in the 1995/6 series?
4* - well done Peter CS!
14) Fill in the gaps:
“On the match itself, Atherton said yesterday: “It would have been nice if it had been a five-match Test series,” although this is not necessarily a view shared by his bank manager. Of all the statements issued during Atherton’s troubled month, his bank statement would be comfortably the most interesting. Two consecutive trips to London have cost him £4,300 – £2,000 over the dirty pockets, £1,500 for alleged dissent, and £800 when the England team were yesterday fined 30 per cent of their match fee for poor over rates. The latter cost the South Africans, who earn less, £450 each, but Atherton’s debit column is such that he will probably opt for amateur status for the two Texaco Trophy matches this week, and go on the scoreboard as Mr MA Atherton. No wonder he cancelled his Pall Mall restaurant dinner after being fined on Friday night – he probably only had enough money left for a bag of chips.

[b]

And the scores on the doors were...

*drumroll*

17 and a half - JGK
16 and a half - Brass Monkey
15 - PearlJ
9 - Taipan (sorry couldn't wait for the rest of your answers!)
9 - PeterCS
8 - JKL