Sports quiz of the week: big climbs, unlikely comebacks and elite camels

Luke Littler, Inter Miami and an expensive camel. Composite: Getty, Rex Features

1. England have lost the first two Tests in Australia. When did they last come from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series 3-2?

   1. The 1980s

   2. The 1920s

   3. The 1890s

   4. They have never done it

2. 

   Which film was top of the UK box office the last time England won an Ashes Test in Australia?

   1. King Kong

   2. The Lion King

   3. The King’s Speech

   4. Kingsman: The Secret Service

3. Which game will kick off the World Cup next summer?

   1. Mexico v South Africa

   2. Canada v Switzerland

   3. USA v Algeria

   4. France v Senegal

4. 

   … And that was also the opening game at which other World Cup?

   1. 2018

   2. 2010

   3. 1994

   4. 1986

5. Which driver won the last three Formula One races this season?

   1. Max Verstappen

   2. Oscar Piastri

   3. Lando Norris

   4. Charles Leclerc

6. 

   What percentage of Formula One titles have been won by British drivers?

   1. 7%

   2. 19%

   3. 28%

   4. 42%

7. Lionel Messi was the star for Inter Miami this year as they won the MLS Cup. Which of Messi’s former teammates manages the club?

   1. Juan Román Riquelme

   2. Javier Mascherano

   3. Sergio Busquets

   4. Gerard Piqué

8. 

   Who said: “Owning the world’s most expensive camel one day would be a beautiful full-circle moment – something fun, something meaningful and something that excites me”?

   1. Alex Ferguson

   2. Harry Redknapp

   3. Cristiano Ronaldo

   4. Paul Pogba

9. Philip Rivers has signed for the Indianapolis Colts. Why is that a surprise?

   1. He is the son of their owner – and has never played professionally before

   2. He is a 44-year-old grandfather who retired five years ago

   3. He said the Colts were “a pile of jerks” on TV last week

   4. He was sacked by the team last week

10. 

    Chelsea have lost a Women’s Super League match for the first time in 585 days. Who beat them?

    1. Everton

    2. London City Lionesses

    3. Aston Villa

    4. Leicester City

11. Wolves are yet to win in the Premier League this season. Which team are yet to win a game in the Women’s Super League this season?

    1. Aston Villa

    2. Wolves

    3. Leicester City

    4. Liverpool

12. 

    The World Darts Championship will be bigger than ever this year. How many players are competing – and for how much prize money?

    1. 32 players are competing for a prize pot of £1m

    2. 64 players are competing for a prize pot of £2.5m

    3. 128 players are competing for a prize pot of £5m

    4. 256 players are competing for a prize pot of £10m

13. Which football club has reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in their 138-year history?

    1. Maidstone United

    2. Weston-super-Mare

    3. Boreham Wood

    4. Sutton United

14. 

    Sasha DiGiulian has become the first woman to climb the toughest route of El Capitán in Yosemite Park in California. How long was she on the wall?

    1. 59 minutes

    2. 127 hours

    3. 23 days

    4. Two months

15. Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, Lando Norris, Rory McIlroy, Luke Littler and Ellie Kildunne have been nominated for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year award. What do the last four winners have in common?

    1. They all retired within six months of winning the award

    2. They are all women

    3. They have not won any silverware since picking up the award

    4. They are all footballers

Solutions

1:D - England have never come from 2-0 down to win a series … but Australia have. They did it in 1937, when Don Bradman scored 810 runs in the series. , 2:C - In January 2011. The film – about an Australian reviving an Englishman’s career – went on to win four Oscars and England went on to win the series 3-1. , 3:A - That opening fixture might sound familiar …, 4:B - South Africa, the hosts of the tournament, opened the scoring through Siphiwe Tshabalala but Rafael Márquez (who would go on to play in five World Cups) equalised for Mexico and the match finished 1-1., 5:A - It wasn’t enough to win the title though. , 6:C - Lando Norris is the 11th British driver to win the title., 7:B - Messi and Mascherano are Argentina’s two most capped players. , 8:D - The Monaco midfielder has invested in camel racing. He says he has watched his “fair share of races on YouTube” and wants to “elevate the sport on to a global stage”. , 9:B - When offered a contract by the team, Rivers said: “Dadgummit, let’s freaking go.”, 10:A - Chelsea had not lost for 34 games before their 1-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday afternoon. Sonia Bompastor has been their manager for 18 months and it was her first defeat in the league. , 11:D - It hasn't been the best season for their men's or women's teams. , 12:C - Luke Littler, the reigning champion, is the favourite to win the title and take home the top prize of £1m., 13:B - They are not the only sixth-tier club in the third round; Macclesfield, who are managed by John Rooney – Wayne’s brother – have been drawn against holders Crystal Palace. , 14:C - For nine of those days, she was stuck on a hanging tent climbers use to sleep on vertical rock faces, while enduring relentless storms with heavy rain, snow and fierce winds that battered the wall. "It’s the proudest climb of my career. I can’t believe it!" she said at the summit., 15:B - Emma Raducanu in 2021, Beth Mead in 2022, Mary Earps in 2023 and Keely Hodgkinson in 2024.

Scores

1. 1 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

2. 2 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

3. 3 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

4. 4 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

5. 5 and above.

   Ah well. Better luck next week.

6. 6 and above.

   That's a fine score. Nicely played. Have a great weekend.

7. 7 and above.

   That's a fine score. Nicely played. Have a great weekend.

8. 8 and above.

   That's a fine score. Nicely played. Have a great weekend.

9. 9 and above.

   That's a fine score. Nicely played. Have a great weekend.

10. 10 and above.

    That's a fine score. Nicely played. Have a great weekend.

11. 11 and above.

    That's a superb score. Fantastic work. Have a great weekend.

12. 12 and above.

    That's a superb score. Fantastic work. Have a great weekend.

13. 13 and above.

    That's a superb score. Fantastic work. Have a great weekend.

14. 14 and above.

    That's a superb score. Fantastic work. Have a great weekend.

15. 0 and above.

    Ah well. Better luck next week.

16. 15 and above.

    That's a superb score. Fantastic work. Have a great weekend.