Test Cricket Records: The 1970s Quiz

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.

Answer: England

Unlike the the two decades which followed, when one team dominated all comers, the 1970s were were a much more even affair, with Australia, England, India and the West Indies vying for the upper hand on equal footing. England (33) edged Australia (30) in total victories, with the West Indies (18) and India (17) not far behind.

Answer: Derek Underwood

In a decade where sheer pace and aggression ruled the roost, it would come as a surprise to many that the medium pace and slow left-arm spin of England's Derek Underwood would place him at the head of the list of wicket-takers. He took 202 wickets in the 1970s, with his best performance coming at Lord's in 1974, when he demolished Pakistan to take 13 wickets for the match. Thompson (152) and Grieg (141) finished in sixth and seventh spot, respectively and Michael Holding, who only played for only half of the decade, finished with 62 wickets.

Answer: Rod Marsh

Australia's Rod Marsh, given the dubious nickname 'Iron Gloves' for his occasional dropped catches, achieved 209 of his 355 total test dismissals in the 1970s. England's Alan Knott (192), Pakistan's Wasim Bari (136) and India's Syed Kirmani (91) were all long-term wicketkeepers and topped the list in the 1970s for their respective teams.

Answer: Ian Chappell

Aggressive and tactical, Australia's 'Chappelli' led his team to 15 test victories in the 1970s, one more than England's Mike Brearly and Clive Lloyd of the West Indies. He took over after Australia had been thrashed 4-0 by South Africa, however the Aussies never lost a series under his leadership. Tony Grieg captained England to three test victories, whilst Boycott did the same in one of the four tests in which he was captain.

Answer: West Indies

South African-born England captain Tony Grieg had infamously promised to 'make the West Indies grovel' before England's 1976 home series, but it was England who was doing all of the grovelling by the end of this match. In a fearsome batting display which included an innings of 291 from Vivian Richards, the Windies smashed the England attack to all parts of The Oval. Opener Gordon Greenidge would have considered himself unlucky to be out for a duck in such a huge total, but he would later make amends in the second innings.

In England's reply, Michael Holding took eight wickets to leave the hosts trailing by some 250 runs; Fredericks and Greenidge then continued the onslaught with the bat as they put on a big opening stand before the Windies declared on 0/182. England were then skittled for 203 with Holding again the destroyer, taking 6/57.

Answer: Tony Grieg

England captain Tony Grieg took 87 catches during the 1970s, mostly fielding at slip. Greg and Ian Chappell took 76 and 62 catches, respectively, for Australia in the same decade.

Answer: Bhagwat Chandrasekhar

India's Bhagwat Chandrasekhar took five in an innings 14 times in the 1970s with his fizzing legbreaks. A bout of polio as a child left Chandrasekhar's right arm withered; his left arm, however, proved to be a regular match-winner. Botham and Lillee (12 each) and Andy Roberts (9) led the way with five wicket hauls for England, Australia and the West Indies respectively.

Answer: India

India were skittled by the England attack for just 42 runs following on in the 1974 Lord's test. Eknath Solkar top-scored with 18 as India lost by an innings and 285 runs.

Answer: Lawrence Rowe

Despite being allergic to grass, West Indies' Lawrence Rowe scored 302 in a drawn match in the leafy atmosphere of Kensington Oval in Barbados in 1974. This was the only triple-century in tests during the 1970s. His innings included 36 fours and a six.