Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Capacity

25,000

Established

1882

City

Birmingham, England

Surface

Grass

About this Ground

England's most hostile home ground — 'Fortress Edgbaston'. England rarely lose Tests here.

History & Significance

Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham has hosted cricket since 1882, when Warwickshire County Cricket Club made it their home, but its fame in the modern era derives from one consistent characteristic: England very rarely lose Tests here. The ground has earned the nickname 'Fortress Edgbaston' for England's remarkable home record — partly due to pitch preparation that historically favours English conditions, partly due to the dense, partisan crowd from Birmingham and the Midlands that creates an atmosphere unlike any other English ground. Its single most celebrated Test match came in 2005 during the Ashes: England beat Australia by just two runs after one of the most dramatic final sessions in Test history, with Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison completing the remarkable victory. It was the moment that turned the 2005 series — ultimately won by England — from a contest into a cultural event. In ICC tournament cricket, Edgbaston hosted the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy Final, where India defeated England by 5 runs in a nerve-jangling conclusion, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin restricting England's chase in the closing overs. The 2019 Cricket World Cup used Edgbaston extensively, and the ground underwent significant redevelopment in 2022-23, increasing capacity to 25,000. The steep terracing of the Eric Hollies Stand creates one of English cricket's most distinctive backdrops.