Hansie Cronje Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wessel Johannes Cronje

Hansie Cronje was born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, in South Africa, on September 25, 1969. Nicholaas Everhardus Cronje (Ewie), who played for Orange Free State between 1960-1972, was Hansie's father.

Answer: University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein

Cronje was chosen for the South African schools XI as a schoolboy. He was studying for a bachelors degree in commerce between 1988-1991, during which time he played provincial cricket instead of getting a part time job.

Answer: Queensland

Cronje's first class debut came in the 1987/88 season in South Africa, when he played for the Orange Free State against Transvaal. He played for Leicestershire in 1995. Test players have guested for Ireland, Hansie Cronje appearing in 1996.

Answer: India

Cronje scored 6 test centuries in 68 matches. His first century was against India at Port Elizabeth. South Africa won the match by 9 wickets. Cronje scored his 135 in 529 minutes from 410 deliveries, including 12 fours and a six.

Answer: 251

Cronje scored 251 for Orange Free State against the Australian touring side of 1993/94. In the first innings he scored 44; for the second innings Cronje's side were set 457 runs to win. They fell 61 runs short of this target. Cronje scored 251 out of a total of 396, batting for 409 minutes and hitting twenty-eight fours and six sixes.

Answer: 18

He was also named man of the series for his performance in the Standard Bank International one day series in South Africa in January/February 1997. India and Zimbabwe were the visiting teams and the competition was won by South Africa. In eight matches, Cronje scored 274 runs at an average of 137.00. He also took 7 wickets at an average of 32.71.

Answer: 5

Cronje scored 2023 runs when bating at number 5 and 1076 runs when batting at number 3. He scored three centuries from each position in the order. He batted most often at number 5 (56 innings). Overall, his test batting average was 36.14, from 111 innings. He scored 6 centuries, 23 half centuries and was out for a duck eleven times.

Answer: True

Cronje took over as captain in 1994. He lost the first test that he captained, against New Zealand, but then won the next five matches. This was a record for South Africa. In all he captained his country in 53 tests and won 27 of them.

Answer: Accepting money to influence the result of matches

Cronje was found guilty of accepting money from bookmakers on the Indian subcontinent and of trying to bribe other members of his side to underperform in the test series. He was stripped of the South African captaincy immediately, and after investigations was banned from cricket for life.

Answer: In a plane crash

He was only 32 when his plane crashed into Cradock Peak in the Outeniqua Mountains as it approached his home town of George. His scheduled flight had been grounded by a hailstorm, so he had got himself a ride in a cargo plane instead. Theorists wonder if the crash was not an accident, or was he silenced so that he could never reveal the extent of the involvement in match rigging?