Consider the following Table:
| Player | Runs scored in the First Innings | Balls faced in the First Innings | Runs scored in the Second Innings | Balls faced in the Second Innings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 61 | 99 | 14 | 76 |
| B | 05 | 12 | 50 | 85 |
| C | 15 | 75 | 20 | 50 |
| D | 13 | 55 | 12 | 50 |
Who is the fastest run scorer in the Test Match?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) B
Speed of scoring is runs per ball over the whole match. B scores 55 runs off 97 balls (about 0.57 a ball), ahead of A (75 off 175), C (35 off 125) and D (25 off 105).
- Fastest scorer = highest total runs ÷ total balls across both innings.
- A: (61 + 14) ÷ (99 + 76) = 75 ÷ 175 ≈ 0.43 runs per ball.
- B: (5 + 50) ÷ (12 + 85) = 55 ÷ 97 ≈ 0.57.
- C: 35 ÷ 125 = 0.28; D: 25 ÷ 105 ≈ 0.24.
- B has the highest rate, so B is the fastest run scorer.
- Check: only B scores more than half a run per ball (55 > 97 ÷ 2).
Remember · Compare ratios of totals, not innings by innings; a simple benchmark (here half a run per ball) often settles it.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·