Cricket and the Ashes

Hidden so nobody spots the answers before playing. Quizmasters, this is for you.

1. 1. At which ground did Australia's 1882 victory inspire the mock obituary behind the Ashes name?
   • A. Old Trafford
   • B. The Oval (answer)
   • C. Trent Bridge
   • D. Lord's
   Australia's victory at The Oval on 29 August 1882 was their first Test win on English soil.
2. 2. Which newspaper published the mock obituary declaring that English cricket's ashes would be taken to Australia?
   • A. The Sporting Life
   • B. The Sportsman
   • C. The Times
   • D. The Sporting Times (answer)
   The Sporting Times obituary supplied the metaphor that became the rivalry's name.
3. 3. Which England captain received the small urn during the 1882/83 tour of Australia?
   • A. Lord Harris
   • B. Ivo Bligh (answer)
   • C. W. G. Grace
   • D. A. N. Hornby
   Bligh received the urn as a personal gift after a social match at Rupertswood.
4. 4. Where was Ivo Bligh presented with the original Ashes urn?
   • A. Adelaide Oval
   • B. The Rupertswood Estate near Melbourne (answer)
   • C. The Sydney Cricket Ground
   • D. Government House in Hobart
   The presentation took place at Rupertswood on Christmas Eve 1882.
5. 5. What material is the original Ashes urn made from?
   • A. Silver
   • B. Terracotta (answer)
   • C. Ivory
   • D. Bronze
   The fragile terracotta urn was a personal keepsake rather than a trophy commissioned for the series.
6. 6. Which institution houses the original Ashes urn?
   • A. The British Museum
   • B. The Australian Museum in Sydney
   • C. The National Sports Museum in Melbourne
   • D. The MCC Museum at Lord's (answer)
   Bligh's widow Florence bequeathed the urn to MCC after his death.
7. 7. Who captained England during the 1932/33 Bodyline series?
   • A. Douglas Jardine (answer)
   • B. Arthur Carr
   • C. Percy Chapman
   • D. Wally Hammond
   Jardine used fast leg-theory bowling to restrict Australia's batters, particularly Don Bradman.
8. 8. Which fast bowler was central to England's Bodyline tactics in 1932/33?
   • A. Alec Bedser
   • B. Harold Larwood (answer)
   • C. Maurice Tate
   • D. Fred Trueman
   Larwood bowled fast, short-pitched deliveries towards the body with close leg-side fielders waiting.
9. 9. What were Jim Laker's match bowling figures against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956?
   • A. 20 wickets for 100 runs
   • B. 19 wickets for 90 runs (answer)
   • C. 17 wickets for 83 runs
   • D. 18 wickets for 99 runs
   Laker took 9 for 37 and 10 for 53, leaving only one Australian wicket to another bowler.
10. 10. What type of bowler was Jim Laker?
    • A. Off-spinner (answer)
    • B. Left-arm orthodox spinner
    • C. Right-arm fast bowler
    • D. Leg-spinner
    Laker's right-arm off-spin brought him 193 Test wickets at an average of 21.24.
11. 11. Under MCC Law 14, what first-innings lead allows the follow-on in a five-day match when play starts on day one?
    • A. 250 runs
    • B. 150 runs
    • C. 200 runs (answer)
    • D. 175 runs
    In a match of five days or more, a lead of at least 200 gives the team batting first the option.
12. 12. Under the MCC law change effective from October 2022, who normally faces the next delivery after a catch, if the over has not ended?
    • A. The non-striker whenever the previous pair crossed
    • B. The batter chosen by the fielding captain
    • C. Whichever batter crossed the midpoint last
    • D. The incoming batter, regardless of crossing (answer)
    The 2022 change placed the incoming batter at the striker's end after a catch, removing the old effect of crossing.