FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Trivia Questions and Answers
photo of    Test Cricket

1270 Test Cricket Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Test Cricket? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Test Cricket (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Cricket    ICC World Cup    Cricket Challenge    Australia    Twenty20 Cricket   
1 The first-ever tied Test was played 9-14 December, 1960 in Brisbane between Australia and West Indies. Who was the only player to score 50 runs or more in both innings for his team?
Answer: Frank Worrell (WI)

The West Indies captain Frank Worrell scored 65 in both West Indies innings. Gary Sobers scored 132 and 14 and Norm O'Neill scored 181 and 26. Alan Davidson became the first player in Test cricket to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in a Test match. He made 44 and 80 and took 11 wickets for the match.
Quite a few other players scored 50 runs or more in one innings being from Australia (Simpson, MacDonald, Benaud) and from the West Indies (Solomon, Alexander, Hall, Kanhai).
  From Quiz: Test Cricket in the 1960s
2 Arthur Milton was a dual international having played for England at football and cricket. When he played his first Test match he opened the batting with another dual international. Who was the other opening batsman?
Answer: Mike Smith

Mike Smith was a cricket and rugby international. He opened the batting with Milton in 1958 against New Zealand at Headingley where Milton made 104 not out.
Tony Lewis was not only a Test cricketer but was not an international rugby player although he did play for Cambridge University RUFC. Martin Donnelly played Test cricket for NZ and international rugby for England. Mickey Stewart played Test cricket and football for Charlton Athletic FC but was not a football international.
  From Quiz: International Test Cricket
3 What is the significance of the performances of Nazar Mohammad in 1952 and that of Mudassar Nazar in 1983 in carrying their bats through a completed Test innings?
Answer: They were the first father/son combination to achieve the feat

Nazar achieved the feat in Pakistan's second ever Test match, making 124 out of the team's total of 331 runs. In the process he had the honour of being his country's first ever Test match centurion. Nazar would only manage to play five Tests for his country, his career being shortened by damage to his arm as a result of a training accident. His son, Mudassar, scored ten hundreds and over four thousand runs for Pakistan in a career that spanned 76 Tests. In January of 1983 he was the last man standing against India scoring an undefeated 152 in a total of 323.
  From Quiz: The Last Man Standing
4 The highest individual scores in both Tests were by Australians. Who were they?
Answer: Norman O'Neill and Dean Jones

Norman O'Neill made 181 and Dean Jones hit 210, in Brisbane and Madras respectively.
  From Quiz: The Brisbane and Chepauk Ties
5 Who was the first batsman to achieve a century in both innings of a Test match?
Answer: Warren Bardsley

Bardsley scored 136 runs in the first innings, and 130 in the second of a drawn Test against England in 1909. A stylish left-hander, Bardsley went on to score six centuries in his 41 Test match career.
  From Quiz: Rare Feats: Significant Individual Scores
6 Which batsman scored the first-ever Test match triple hundred?
Answer: Andy Sandham

Andy scored 325 against the West Indies in April 1930. It had taken 53 years and 193 Test matches for cricket to witness a triple century at the highest level of the game. Remarkably, the second triple hundred was scored only three Test matches later.
    Your options: [ John Edrich ] [ Len Hutton ] [ Don Bradman ] [ Andy Sandham ]
  From Quiz: Rare Feats: 300 Runs
7 New Zealand played their first international test match in 1930. In what year did they win their first test?
Answer: 1956

New Zealand played their first test against England, losing by 8 wickets. Their first test win was against the West Indies an unbelievable 26 years later.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket
8 This English batsman scored 325 and was the first ever to score a Test triple century. Who is he?
Answer: Andy Sandham

This batsman broke this record on the 3rd April 1930. In this innings he hit 28 fours and faced 640 balls.
  From Quiz: Highest Scores in Test Cricket
9 Who captained England for the bodyline tour?
Answer: Douglas Jardine

Jardine was a ruthless captain in an era when the spirit in which sport was played was important. He was a strong-willed and haughty individual who apparently hated Australians, and did nothing to hide his feelings of dislike. The views of his own side were mixed: while many were extremely loyal towards him, others such as the Nawab of Pataudi did not support his methods.
  From Quiz: The Bodyline Tour: 1932-33
10 Which batsman scored the most runs in test cricket in the 1970s?
Answer: Sunil Gavaskar

The top two run-scorers in test cricket in the 1970s played for India. Sunil Gavaskar scored 5647 runs in the 1970s to head the list, followed by Gundappa Viswanath, who scored 4611 batting at no. 4. Both batsmen played particularly well against pace bowling; three of Gavaskar's four highest scores of the decade came against the West Indies, which included the likes of Roberts, Holding and Croft. Australia's Chappell and England's Boycott were the top run-getters for their respective teams, whilst Clive Lloyd finished the decade in 11th spot, with 3475 runs.
    Your options: [ Clive Lloyd ] [ Greg Chappell ] [ Sunil Gavaskar ] [ Geoff Boycott ]
  From Quiz: Test Cricket Records: The 1970s
11 Which batsman scored the most runs in test cricket in the 1980s?
Answer: Allan Border

Australia's inspirational captain Allan Border scored 7386 of his 11174 runs in the 1980s. By the time he finished his career, he had scored more runs than any other batsman in the history of test cricket, although he was later overtaken by West Indies' Brian Lara. Some-time England captain David Gower scored 6196 runs in the 1980s, whilst his compatriot Graham Gooch managed 3970. Viv Richards top-scored for the West Indies with 5113.
    Your options: [ Sunil Gavaskar ] [ Allan Border ] [ Graham Gooch ] [ Vivian Richards ]
  From Quiz: Test Cricket Records: The 1980s
12 Which batsman scored the most runs in test cricket in the 1990s?
Answer: Alec Stewart

Englishman Alec Stewart scored an incredible 6,407 runs in the 1990s, just ahead of Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh. Sachin Tendulkar managed 5626 and Brian Lara scored 5573. Sanath Jayasuriya was back in 30th spot, with 2751 runs.
    Your options: [ Brian Lara ] [ Alec Stewart ] [ Sachin Tendulkar ] [ Sanath Jayasuriya ]
  From Quiz: Test Cricket Records: The 1990s
13 Who was the only batsman Shane Warne dismissed in his debut match?
Answer: Ravi Shastri

Shastri made 206, while Warne finished with a return of 1/150. Tendulkar also made 148 not out in the Indian innings. The match ended as a draw.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket's 400 Wickets Club
14 When Gary Sobers hit six sixes in an over against Glamorgan in 1968, who was the unfortunate bowler?
Answer: Malcolm Nash

Tony Cottey, the former Glamorgan batsman, was hit for 34 from an over by Glen Chapple in 1993. Steve Marsh, the Kent keeper for years, was hit for 34 from an over by Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard in 1992. Tilak Raj was hit for six sixes but by Ravi Shastri in 1984. Malcolm Nash not only got hit for 36 by Gary Sobers, but nine years, in 1977 later got hit for 34 by Frank Hayes.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket
15 Which Australian fast bowler took 40 or more wickets in two Ashes series in the 1980s?
Answer: Terry Alderman

The years were 1981 and 1989.
    Your options: [ Terry Alderman ] [ Dennis Lillee ] [ Geoff Lawson ] [ Merv Hughes ]
  From Quiz: Bowlers in Test Cricket
16 The third test of the 1981 Ashes series in England was played in Leeds. Who was the batsman that scored 149 not out in England's second innings?
Answer: Ian Botham

Ian Botham's 149 not out ensured that Australia had to bat again. Australia's target was 130. England bowled Australia out for 111 and Botham got the man of the match award.
  From Quiz: History of Test Cricket
17 Born New Years Eve 1958, I played 50 Tests for Australia between 1985 and 1992, scoring 2854 runs at an average of 33.18. I later went on to coach Australia. Who am I?
Answer: Geoff Marsh

Marsh was also the coach of Zimbabwe when another Aussie opener, Matt Hayden, scored a World Record 380 against Zimbabwe at Marsh's home ground in Western Australia. Hayden's record was broken by Brian Lara a few months later when he scored 400.
  From Quiz: Cricket - Just for Openers
18 Which Australian, in 1879, took the first hat trick in test cricket?
Answer: Frederick Spofforth

Frederick Spofforth took his only test match hat trick in the first test of the 1878-79 series against England. The match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the three English batsmen dismissed were Vernon Royle, Francis MacKinnon and Thomas Emmett. Australia won the match by ten wickets. Francis Allan, Thomas Garrett and Henry Boyle were the other bowlers for Australia.
    Your options: [ Frederick Spofforth ] [ Thomas Garrett ] [ Francis Allan ] [ Henry Boyle ]
  From Quiz: Hat Trick Heroes
19 In 1979, an Englishman played one test against India, scored 14 and 20 and never played another Test. His son made his Test debut 18 years later. Who was the one Test wonder?
Answer: Alan Butcher

Alan played his only Test at The Oval, which was also the venue for his only ODI. Son Mark made his debut in 1997 and scored 8 & 14. Mark scored his first Test century against South Africa in his 13th Test in 1998.
  From Quiz: One Test Wonders
20 Brian Lara is the first man to hold the world record for the highest Test score twice. When he scored 400 not out for the West Indies against England, in April 2004, which England player was also there when he scored 375 ten years previously?
Answer: Graham Thorpe

It must have seemed like 'deja vu' to Graham Thorpe, fielding while Lara batted for nearly 13 hours making his 400 not out in April 2004. In 1994, on the same Antigua ground, Thorpe fielded while Lara batted for 766 minutes in scoring 375. Lara also has the highest ever innings in all first class cricket. In 1994, playing for Warwickshire, he scored 501 not out against Durham.
    Your options: [ Graham Thorpe ] [ Nasser Hussain ] [ None of them ] [ Michael Vaughan ]
  From Quiz: The 300 Plus Club
21 This Indian player was one of an elite few to have taken at least 100 Test wickets AND scored a double-century. He opened the batting on some occasions. Can you name him?
Answer: Ravi Shastri

Shastri took 151 wickets, and his highest score was 206 against Australia in 1992.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket World Beaters
22 Who scored 165 runs in the very first test match, establishing the first individual test innings record?
Answer: Charles Bannerman

Bannerman, playing for Australia against England in Melbourne, also scored the very first runs in test cricket.
  From Quiz: The Changing of the Guard
23 What date did this Test Match start?
Answer: 26th July

This was the first of a 3 test series against India.
    Your options: [ 5th July ] [ 14th July ] [ 30th July ] [ 26th July ]
  From Quiz: The Graham Gooch Match: Lord's 1990
24 Who was the first player, over the age of 50, to appear in a Test?
Answer: W.G.Grace

W.G. Grace was captain of England at the age of 50 years and 320 days, on the last day of his last Test, vs Australia in 1899.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket Firsts
25 Who were England's opposition when Dickie Bird stood in his first test match?
Answer: New Zealand

The match was against New Zealand at Headingley, Leeds in July 1973.
  From Quiz: Cricket Test Matches
26 How many Test Matches were played between 1st January and 31 December, 1946?
Answer: 6

There were only 6 tests played, due to economic restrictions, as well as countries still taking stock after the war.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket In 1946
27 Which wicket-keeper passed Allan Knott's record of dismissals, and ended up with a grand total of 355 dismissals in 96 test matches?
Answer: Rod Marsh

Rod Marsh was handy with the bat as well. He scored three test centuries, with a highest of 132. Of his 355 dismissals, only 12 were stumped.
  From Quiz: Legends of Test Cricket
28 When Bangladesh became a Test playing country they became the tenth test nation. Who is missing from this list: Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, England, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and South Africa?
Answer: Pakistan

The first international cricket match was actually played between Canada and the United States! The match was played in New York in 1844, and Canada won by 23 runs.
Bangladesh became the tenth test cricket nation on 10th November 2000.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket
29 Whose record did Len Hutton break when he set the record for the highest score ever made by an Englishman?
Answer: Walter Hammond

Hutton broke his record six years after Hammond set it. Hammond broke the record set by Andrew Sandham.
  From Quiz: Highest Scores for Each Country
30 Which West Indian batsman broke the record of the highest score in a test match innings held by Sir Garfield Sobers?
Answer: Brian Lara

Lara's 375 surpassed the score of 365 not out by Sobers.
    Your options: [ Shivnarine Chanderpaul ] [ Gordon Greenidge ] [ Brian Lara ] [ IVA Richards ]
  From Quiz: Highest Individual Scores
31 Which opening batsman claimed he deliberately got himself out, on the same score as Bradman, after their massive partnership together?
Answer: Sid G. Barnes

Sydney F. Barnes was a great English Golden Age bowler, Morris was the graceful lefthander who opened with Barnes in the 40s, and Woodfull was the steadfast opener of the 20s and 30s. Australia's Sid Barnes ended up shooting himself.
    Your options: [ Syd F. Barnes ] [ Bill Woodfull ] [ Arthur Morris ] [ Sid G. Barnes ]
  From Quiz: Tapestry of Cricket
32 Where was the first ever Test Match played?
Answer: Melbourne Cricket Ground

The first ever Test Match was played in 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia beat England by 45 runs.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket Firsts
33 This cricketer often polls as the second greatest batsman of all time. He was a stalwart of his team for 24 years. Who is the cricketer nicknamed the "Little Master?"
Answer: Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut at the tender age of just 16 in 1989. He went on to score 51 Test centuries and nearly 16,000 runs overall during a Test career that spanned 200 matches. The nickname "Little Master" stems from his height of 165 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches) combined with his batting prowess. As well as his feats in Test cricket, he had a remarkable One Day International cricket career, scoring 18,426 runs in 463 matches.
  From Quiz: Boy Wonders
34 This opening batsman, who achieved 5,000 test runs in 95 innings, was the first Test batsman to score 10,000 test runs in a career. Born in India who is this cricketer?
Answer: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar was born 10th July 1949 in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Gavaskar had a near-perfect technique coupled with enormous powers of concentration. His defence was virtually unbreachable, which made his wicket among the hardest to earn. Playing 125 tests for India, Sunil Gavaskar finished his career with an average of 51.12. During his career Gavaskar set many world records including the most Test runs and most Test centuries scored by any batsman. For almost 20 years, Gavaskar held the record of 34 Test centuries before Sachin Tendulkar, in December 2005, set a new mark. He was the first person to score centuries in both innings of a Test match on three occassions.
Question By miker68
  From Quiz: Fastest to 5000 runs in Cricket
35 In Test Match No: 515 played in December 1961, Durban between South Africa and New Zealand there were a number of players making their Test debuts. Of the 22 players named in the two teams how many were making their Test debut in this match?
Answer: 12

There were a total of 12 making their Test debuts. Five from New Zealand (Bartlett, Barton, Cameron, Dick and Motz) and from South Africa there were seven (Barlow, Bland, Bromfield, Elgie, Lawrence, P. Pollock and Walter).
South Africa won this match by 30 runs and of the debutants Peter Pollock made the most impact by taking 9 wickets for the match.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket in the 1960s
36 In December 1928 replaced Don Bradman when he was dropped from the Australian Test team. I also played 19 Tests for the Wallabies. Who am I?
Answer: Otto Nothling

This was the only Test match that Otto played. He was replaced by Bradman in the next Test. Bert Ironmonger also played in that Test with Otto but he was not a dual international. Johnny Taylor played 20 Tests for Australian and 2 Wallabies Tests. Alan Walker played cricket for NSW and Tests for the Wallabies.
  From Quiz: International Test Cricket
37 This man was only the second professional cricketer ever to receive the knighthood after Donald Bradman. Nicknamed 'The Master', he shared his most famous partnerships with Herbert Sutcliffe and Wilfred Rhodes.
Answer: Jack Hobbs (England)

Hobbs received the knighthood in 1953, four years after Bradmna was knighted. Hobbs and Sutcliffe opened the innings together from 1924 to 1930, making 15 century partnerships, and are considered the finest opening pair in history. Hobbs went on to complete 197 first class hundreds, scoring 61,760 runs.
    Your options: [ Len Hutton (England) ] [ Victor Trumper (Australia) ] [ Barry Richards (South Africa) ] [ Jack Hobbs (England) ]
  From Quiz: The Greatest XI Ever: Howzzat?
38 What was significant about the centuries (150 not out and 153 runs) that Allan Border scored against Pakistan in March 1980?
Answer: He became the first batsman to score 150 runs in both innings of a Test match

Alan batted for almost seven hours in compiling his first innings tally. In comparison, his second innings was a scintillating affair, with the 153 runs being scored in less than three and a half hours.
  From Quiz: Rare Feats: Significant Individual Scores
39 What significant event happened during the Australia vs South Africa test in Manchester in 1912?
Answer: Jimmy Matthews took a hat-trick in each innings

Unbelievably, TJ (Jimmy) Matthews took a hat-trick in the first of second innings of this match. On both occasions his victim was TA Ward, giving him the dubious honour of the first-ever king pair. Australia did score 448 runs, however it was at 3.65 runs per over. Aubrey Faulkner scored 122 in the first innings and a duck in the second. South Africa were in fact bowled out in 28.2 overs in their second dig.
  From Quiz: Test Cricket
40 This other English batsman scored 333 and made a record for the highest runs in a Test match in 1990. Who is he?
Answer: Graham Gooch

In this innings Graham Gooch hit 43 fours and 3 sixes and faced 485 balls.
  From Quiz: Highest Scores in Test Cricket
The rest of the questions and answers can be found in our quizzes here:
Test Cricket Quizzes