A Quickie World Tour Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wasim Akram

Brian Lara, multiple world record holding batsman, has gone on the record numerous times saying that Wasim Akram was the most difficult bowler he ever faced. His bowling was noteworthy for the fact that he constantly attacked the stumps, therefore the batsman had very little room for error or respite.

As well as being one of the world's greatest fast bowlers, Akram was no slouch with the bat either, as his Test top score proves.

Answer: S.F. "Syd" Barnes

Barnes was born in Smethwick, Staffordshire in 1873, and although he played a handful of county games with first Warwickshire and then Lancashire, he was first selected for England whilst playing league cricket, mainly because this gave him a steady wage without too much travelling and insecurity.

He took an amazing 189 wickets in just 27 Tests, all of which were against Australia and South Africa - the only other two Test playing nations at the turn of the 20th Century. He took 12 wickets for Wales against the touring West Indians in 1928, at the age of 55, and continued to play a high standard of league cricket way into his 60s.

Answer: Imran Khan

I had the pleasure of meeting Imran Khan back in the 80s, when he was at the height of his cricketing prowess - what an erudite, deep thinking, intelligent, sensitive but also fun individual he came across as. In following his career both on and off the cricket pitch since then, it comes as no surprise that he has continued to succeed in all that he has turned his hand to. 362 wickets, and almost 4000 Test runs (including 6 centuries) mark him down as one of the great all rounders that the cricket world has seen. Majid Khan, who is Imran's cousin, also captained Pakistan.

Answer: Dale Steyn

By the end of 2007, Dale Steyn had the second best strike rate (ie. balls bowled per wicket taken)in the history of Test cricket behind 19th Century bowler George Lohmann. One wicket every 35.8 balls is quite a fearsome record. He also overtook the legendary Allan Donald to became the fastest South African to take 100 wickets, he took 78 wickets in the year at an average of 16 runs per wicket in 12 Tests in four different countries, and he also took the four top prizes at the South Africa Cricket Awards.

He bowls often at speeds of over 90mph, with a skiddy action, moving the ball both ways off the pitch and in the air - quite a fearsome prospect if you're a batsman!

Answer: Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas has taken well over 300 Test wickets, nearly 400 ODI wickets and scored nearly 3000 Test runs. He has played domestic cricket in England and India as well as in his native Sri Lanka, and has represented the Asian XI. He was the first person to take 8 wickets in an innings in an ODI (against Zimbabwe), and also took a hat trick with the first three balls of the match against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup.

He relies on swing and seam rather then out and out pace for his penetration, with his late "in-dipper" being his trademark ball.

Answer: Jeff Thomson

The clues were all there - it could only have been Thomson or Lillee, the fearsome Aussie pace duo of the 70s - Trueman is English, and Holding a West Indian team mate of Viv Richards' - but Thomson had the slingy action (compared to Lillee's more classical action) - and if you were really struggling, Thomson was born in Greenacre, New South Wales, whilst Lillee came from Subiaco, in Western Australia.

Answer: Brett Lee

His brother Shane Lee played for Australia, whilst Brett's younger brother, Grant, played for New South Wales as a youngster before becoming an accountant and a concert pianist. Along with brother Shane, he plays guitar in a band called "Six and Out", which also comprises ex NSW cricketers Gavin Robertson, Richard Chee Quee and Brad McNamara - not sure if Brad sings, but I hope he's improved from his days when I used to play with him at Teddington Cricket Club in London if he does!

Brett had a number 2 hit in India and South Africa in 2006 when he dueted with Indian diva Asha Boshle on a song called "You're the one for me". He also filmed scenes for the Bollywood movie "Victory" in 2008.

But don't let this entertaining side of Brett Lee's character fool you - he is one of the world's most feared and respected fast bowlers, regularly topping the 90mph mark on the speed gun!

Answer: Jason Gillespie

"Dizzy" Gillespie has graced the cricket fields of India, Yorkshire and Glamorgan as well as appearing in 71 Tests and almost 100 ODI's for Australia before announcing his retirement from international cricket in 2008.

He set the world record for the highest score by a nightwatchman in Test cricket - a marathon, nine and a half hour unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh. He is a self confesed wrestling and heavy metal fan, and often celebrates his batting successes with a bat ride he's "adapted" from the movie "Happy Gilmore".

Along with Glenn McGrath, he is part of Australia's most statistically successful opening bowling pair. His greatest trait as a bowler is the way he can move the ball through the air and off the seam. I had the privilege of watching him bowl for Glamorgan early in 2008, where he bowled an over of 6 completelydifferent balls, - outswingers, inswingers, off cutters, leg breaks and a bouncer - he beat the batsman with all six balls, and I don't think I've ever seen such a display of complete control over a ball moving at over 80mph.

Answer: Sir Ian Botham

Larger than life in every way, Ian Botham is one of the great heroes of British sport. In an era where cricket started to become an all year round game, Botham still managed almost a dozen, high quality football league matches with Scunthorpe, as well as a few games with Yeovil - whilst his son, Liam, managed to play first class cricket, rugby union and rugby league - a real all round family.

As well as taking 383 Test wickets, "Beefy", or "Guy the Gorilla", also scored 5200 Test runs, including 14 centuries, 145 ODI wickets along with 2113 runs, and 120 Test match catches.

He now commentates on cricket on the TV, as well as doing huge amounts of charity work. A real cricketing quickie legend!

Answer: Keith Miller

Where do you begin to try and tell the story of Keith Miller? As an Aussie Rules footballer, and as World War 2 flying ace, there are two novels to be written alone - and that's before you start to talk about probably his main claim to fame as a Test cricketer.

Stories about his maverick approach to life are manifold, some apocryphal, most true, every one causing a smile. Regarded by most cricketing afficionados as the all rounder of his generation (the post war 1940's and 1950's), Miller really is a throwback to the times when cricket was a "sport blokes play" - epitomised by his reply when asked if he felt pressure playing test cricket, Miller replied with typical belligerence "Pressure? I'll tell you what pressure is. Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse - cricket is not!".