The Weekly Quiz
The English County Cricket season kicks off in the unfamiliar surrounds of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium this week. Just how prepared are you for the new season?
1. In which United Arab Emirates city will one find the Sheikh Zayed Stadium?
a) Dubai
b) Sharjah
c) Abu Dhabi
2. The colour of the ball used in this year's season opener is the same as the jersey worn by which county in the Friends Provident T20 last season?
a) Warwickshire
b) Lancashire
c) Middlesex
3. Veteran Mark Ramprakash returned home early from the Middle East and miss the MCC's ongoing game against Durham. This one included, the 40-year old has played in how many seasons of County cricket?
a) 24
b) 23
c) 19
4. Ramprakash's longevity in the game has reaped a total of 426 first-class appearances, but he is unlikely to get close to the record held by Wilfred Rhodes, who was probably still playing at the time of his death, aged 95. Rhodes' record stands at how many first class appearances?
a) 1110
b) 870
c) 687
5. The Netherlands will return to the County scene this season, specifically in the 40-over competition. The first Dutch player to be involved in County cricket was Paul-Jan Bakker in 1989. What job did Bakker take up at the end of his playing days?
a) Guitarist in the band 'Kane'
b) Coach of the Dutch National side
c) Bowling coach at Hampshire
6. Which hard-hitting international player has been signed by Northants as their overseas professional this season?
a) Virender Sehwag
b) Ashwell Prince
c) Matthew Hayden
7. Who scored the highest individual score in division one of the County Championship last season?
a) Murray Goodwin
b) James Hildreth
c) Daryl Mitchell
8. How many triple hundreds were scored during the course of the 2009 season?
a) Four
b) Two
c) One
9. Who finished top of the County Championship Division one wicket-taking chart last year?
a) Steve Harmison
b) Graham Onions
c) Charl Willoughby
10.Hampshire have gone for a name change and will appear in this year's Friend Provident T20 as the...
a) Hampshire Super Kings.
b) Hampshire Royals.
c) Hampshire Knight Riders.
11. In the history of the County Championship, the team to have finished with the wooden spoon the most times is...
a) Somerset.
b) Leicestershire.
c) Derbyshire.
12. Fresh off the PCB banning drama, Hampshire have signed which two Pakistan players to join them for the 20-over competition?
a) Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq
b) Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi
c) Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi
13. Who hit the most sixes in last year's T20 competition?
a) James Allenby
b) Michael Lumb
c) Darren Stevens
14. Durham are aiming to be the first team since when to win three consecutive County Championship titles?
a) 1994
b) 1985
c) 1968
15. The aforementioned feat was achieved in that year by...
a) Essex.
b) Yorkshire.
c) Surrey.
