Cricket History and Facts

Shahid Afridi holds the record for being the youngest player to score an ODI century. He achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and 217 days against Sri Lanka in 1996. This remains one of the most remarkable records in ODI cricket history.

Mohammed Azharuddin captained India in the most ODI matches during his tenure from 1990-1999. Under his leadership, India played 174 ODIs with notable victories including series wins against England, West Indies, and others. While Dhoni and Ganguly were also successful captains, Azharuddin holds the record for most matches captained.

Andy Flower is widely regarded as Zimbabwe's greatest batsman. He holds multiple Zimbabwean records including most Test runs (4794), highest Test batting average (51.54), and most ODI runs (6785). His twin brother Grant Flower was also a prominent Zimbabwean player.

Chris Cairns (misspelled as Carins) held the world record for most sixes in Tests. At the time this question was written (2004-2005), Cairns held this record with 130 sixes. The question refers specifically to that period.

In the novel, the three friends name their cricket shop "Team India Cricket Shop." This reflects their passion for cricket and patriotic pride in the Indian team. The other options are either incorrect or don't match the actual name from Chetan Bhagat's book.

This appears to be a typo for "Fred Liao" (the Australian cricketer character in the novel). If referring to Fred Liao, the statement is false - he's described as an Australian player and a left-handed batsman in the book. The name "Fred Li" seems to be an error. Even if this refers to a real cricketer named Fred Li, no prominent Australian cricketer with that name exists.

Lala Amarnath scored the first Test century for India (118 runs) against England in Mumbai (then Bombay) in December 1933, during India's inaugural Test series. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Sunil Gavaskar all scored centuries later in Indian cricket history - but Amarnath was the pioneer.

Charles Bannerman scored the first-ever Test century in the first Test match played between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1877. He scored 165 runs retired hurt in Australia's first innings, which remained the highest individual score in Test cricket for several years. Bannerman's century was a historic moment that marked the beginning of Test cricket's long and rich tradition. Graham McKenzie, Andy Sandham, and Gregory Chavez are not associated with this milestone.

The lowest innings total in Test Cricket history is 26 runs, scored by New Zealand against England at Auckland in 1955. This remains the record for a completed innings. The options 26, 28, 30, and 32 are all close to each other, making this a test of precise cricket knowledge.

Sachin Tendulkar made his first-class cricket debut in the 1988-89 season playing for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He scored a century in his very first Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat. Mumbai (then called Bombay) has been one of the most successful domestic cricket teams in India, and Tendulkar represented them throughout his domestic career. Options A (Karnataka), B (Delhi), and D (Maharashtra) are incorrect.

Mohinder 'Jimmy' Amarnath was the Man of the Match in the 1983 Cricket World Cup Final between India and the West Indies at Lord's. He played a crucial role with both bat and ball, scoring 26 runs and taking 3 wickets for 12 runs in 7 overs, helping India defend their total of 183 and win by 43 runs. While Kapil Dev was the tournament's top performer and captain, and Gavaskar was a legendary batsman, Amarnath's all-round performance in the final earned him the award.

Sachin Tendulkar's ODI average when he reached 1000 runs was approximately 35.83. This can be verified from cricket statistics. The other values (22.12, 43.87, 44.54) do not match the statistical record from his early ODI career.

Kapil Dev was named India's Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002. This was a special honor recognizing his immense contribution to Indian cricket, including leading India to World Cup victory in 1983 and being India's highest wicket-taker at the time.

Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut along with Salil Ankola in the same match against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989. Both players debuted in this Test, though Tendulkar went on to have a legendary career while Ankola's career was shorter.

Chris Cairns (New Zealand) holds the world record for the maximum number of sixes in Test cricket with 130 sixes. Viv Richards hit 84 sixes, Sachin Tendulkar hit 69 sixes in his career, and Wasim Akram hit 54 sixes. This record stood for many years until being broken later.