Cricket has captivated millions across continents for centuries, evolving from English village greens into a global phenomenon with its own heroes, rituals, and passionate fan bases. Whether you're drawn to the strategic depth of Test cricket's five-day battles, the explosive energy of Twenty20, or the rich history woven through international tournaments, there's far more to the sport than meets the eye. Test your knowledge of cricket's greatest moments, legendary players, and the rules that govern this beautifully complex game.
▶ Play today's quizHow many players from each team are on the field during a cricket match?
Source: Eleven a side is the rule worldwide, the same number football uses, which is why the two sports are often confused on count.
What colour clothing do players traditionally wear in Test cricket?
Source: Test cricket keeps the all-white kit; the coloured pyjamas only arrived with limited-overs cricket in the 1970s.
In cricket, what is the wooden structure a bowler tries to hit called?
Source: The wicket is three stumps topped by two bails; knocking the bails off is one way to get a batter out.
In which sport would you hear the term 'googly'?
Source: A googly is a deceptive spin delivery that turns the opposite way to what the batter expects from the bowler's hand.
What is the maximum number of runs a batter can score from a single legal delivery?
Source: Six is the most off one ball, scored by clearing the boundary on the full; running ten is only possible with overthrows.
What is the shortest of cricket's three main international formats?
Source: Twenty20 gives each side just 20 overs, wrapping a match in about three hours versus five days for a Test.
Which country is widely regarded as the birthplace of cricket?
Source: Cricket grew up in south-east England in the 16th century, long before it spread across the British Empire.
How many balls make up a single over in modern cricket?
Source: Six balls per over is the global standard, though Australia used eight-ball overs as recently as the 1970s.
Which item is essential for a wicketkeeper but no other fielder may use?
Source: Only the wicketkeeper may wear big webbed gloves; any other fielder using gloves to stop the ball is penalised.
What is a score of zero called when a batter is dismissed without scoring?
Source: A 'duck' comes from 'duck's egg', whose zero-like shape gave the term its name; a 'pair' means a duck in both innings of a match.
What is the name of cricket's most famous trophy, contested by England and Australia?
Source: The Ashes urn supposedly holds the burnt remains of a bail, mocking the 'death' of English cricket after an 1882 loss.
Which cricket ground is known worldwide as the 'Home of Cricket'?
Source: Lord's in London has staged cricket since 1814 and carries the honorary title 'Home of Cricket.'
In cricket, which fielding position stands directly behind the batter, beside the keeper?
Source: Slip fielders crouch beside the keeper to catch edges; a row of them is called a 'slip cordon'.
Which Indian batter holds the record for the most runs in international cricket?
Source: Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 international centuries, a tally no other player has come close to matching.
Which country has won the most ICC Cricket World Cup titles?
Source: Australia has lifted the 50-over World Cup six times, more than twice any rival, building a dynasty around the 1999-2007 run.
What does the on-field umpire signal by crossing and waving both arms over the head?
Source: Crossed arms waved overhead mean 'dead ball' — play stops and that delivery does not count toward the over.
What is the name of England's 1932-33 short-pitched tactic that targeted Bradman?
Source: Bodyline used relentless bouncers aimed at the body, sparking a diplomatic row between England and Australia in 1932-33.
In cricket, what does a bowler achieve by taking a 'hat-trick'?
Source: A hat-trick is three wickets off three straight balls; the term came from rewarding such a bowler with a new hat in the 1850s.
Which fielding dismissal credits both the bowler and the catcher, removing one batter?
Source: 'Caught' is the most common dismissal in cricket; uniquely it appears in the scorecard with both the catcher's and bowler's names.
What is the highest individual score by a single batter in a Test match innings?
Source: Brian Lara's unbeaten 400 against England in 2004 is the only quadruple-century in Test history.