Among England’s most iconic grounds, Edgbaston Cricket Ground is situated in the Edgbaston area of England’s second city, Birmingham.
This ground sees a lot of action. It is well positioned for millions of cricket fans as well as having good public transport links, seeing some impressive attendances at the ground.
Edgbaston is one of the cricket venues regularly used by England and has hosted many international cricket games including the Ashes. One of many things that the ground is known for is the party stand, The Hollies Stand, named after Eric Hollies. This can provide one of the best atmospheres in the whole of English cricket.
Key Facts
Capacity: 25,000
Address: Edgbaston Rd, Birmingham B5 7QU
Teams: Warwickshire County County Cricket Club, Birmingham Bears, Birmingham Phoenix, England
Information About Edgbaston Cricket Ground
A lot of people are of the opinion that Edgbaston cricket ground is only outdone by Lords in the UK. It is known for its awesome atmosphere as well as having rich history.
Like so many cricket grounds in the UK, this was established over 100 years ago. In fact, games first took place in Edgbaston way back in 1882. It took a while for Edgbaston to enter the international circuit and start accommodating England games, but in 1902 the ground would host an Ashes test for the first time.
From relatively humble beginnings, Edgbaston has grown to be one of the most impressive grounds in the country. Originally owned by the Calthorpe estate, when there were first international events at Edgbaston stadium it only had one permanent stand in place.
Much of the development of Edgbaston has come since the war, and the stadium has continued to develop and grow, as has Birmingham in general. There was an Indoor Cricket Centre built in 1956 to support cricketers in the region and the development of Warwickshire County Cricket Club players. In 1967 work on the William Ansell Stand was completed, and in the 1980s there were large parts of the stadium redeveloped to bring the capacity of Edgbaston to 17,500.
In the 90s, the first ever floodlit day-nighter in the UK took place at Edgbaston, and in the 2010s a new South and West stand were opened.
After a period of redevelopment England played a test against India at the new-look Edgbaston on 10th August 2011, and gained the number 1 spot of the ICC Test Championship with a convincing win.
What’s it Like to Watch Cricket at Edgbaston?
Thanks to a lot of redevelopment in recent decades, Edgbaston is a relatively modern cricket ground. This makes it one of the top destinations to see the sport in the UK.
On top of this, it means that there is constantly cricket happening at the ground (in the summer, anyway). Edgbaston ground is within easy reaching-distance of Birmingham and has some excellent facilities.
Largely thanks to the iconic Hollies Stand, Edgbaston has become known for its vibrant atmosphere. One day and test cricket alike can turn into thrilling social events, and there are even fancy dress days as people head for a day out at Edgbaston cricket ground.
Test Cricket
Many test series in England see Edgbaston used as one of the grounds. It makes sense due to the positioning of the stadium as well as the facilities on offer.
For over 120 years, the England cricket team has played at Edgbaston, and there have been some thrilling encounters with the old enemy Australia in the Ashes, as well as other test-playing nations.
International One-Day Cricket
Many one dayers are played here, including men’s and women’s cricket. The first ODI to take place at the ground was 28 August 1972, when England took on Australia.
County Championship
Edgbaston is the home ground of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club. They play their home matches in the County Championship at the ground. They have been part of the County Championship since the 19th century and have won the event in 1911, 1951, 1972, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2012, and 2021.
Domestic One-Day Cricket
In domestic one-day cricket tournaments, the team competes as Warwickshire or the Birmingham Bears. The team won the NatWest t20 Blast back in 2014.
The Hundred
The Hundred has been popular in recent years. Edgbaston became one of the host venues for the inaugural season of The Hundred, a professional 100-ball cricket tournament launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The Birmingham Phoenix is the team name, playing home games at Edgbaston in the tournament.
Food and Drink
As you would expect, Edgbaston has a wide range of options when it comes to food and drink. In terms of the bar situation, it was one of the first cricket grounds to integrate self-service bars. There is also a click and collect
Fordhall Farm, a community-owned organic farm, is the exclusive food catering partner of Edgbaston, and they supply all of the food units around the stadium, catering for all options including Halal (H), Vegetarian (V), Vegan (VE), Gluten Free (GF) and more.
Getting to Edgbaston
Birmingham is one of the most well-connected cities in the UK when it comes to railway travel, and while it is a considerable walk from Birmingham New Street station to the ground, it is certainly doable for most people. If not, there is a shuttle bus that runs on major matchdays from the train station to the ground. Be sure to check if there are shuttles running before relying on them.
You can use buses from south-west Birmingham and the City Centre. National Express buses 45 and 47 provide services between the City Centre and Pershore Road, this is a convenient 2-minute walk to the ground.
There are some privately-run car parks within walking distance of the ground, but very little parking on site for visitors.
Map of Edgbaston
The above map will help you to find your bearings at the stadium and understand where you are sitting.
Where to Sit?
Options include:
Eric Hollies Stand – The world-renowned Eric Hollies Stand is the party stand, suitable for people aged 18 and over and accommodating fancy dress as well as a raucous atmosphere. Great if you’re going with a group of friends.
Selco Builders Warehouse Family Stand – A safe and chilled space for families, also providing excellent value. “This is an alcohol-free stand and no alcohol will be allowed to be consumed in this stand. Those who wish to have a drink may do so in our outdoor seating areas behind the stand.”
Seat Unique Terrace – This is an incredible terrace area with amazing seats, a private bar, food and toilet facilities available.
Tickets for this premium area are only available via the Seat Unique website.
Raglan – Great views of the pitch and suitable for a variety of different ages.
South Lower – Ideal for those who want to see behind the bowler’s arm. Excellent seats, and it is easy to reach the concourse.
West Lower – This is behind Edgbaston stadium’s Exhibition Hall, which is always full of activity on the biggest Match Days.
West Upper –Cheaper seats! These may test your eyesight but they offer panoramic views of the action.
Scrivens Stand
Two-tier stand in front of the food court area, where there is often a DJ on major match days.
Stanley Barnes – Adjacent to the Eric Hollies Stand, this has a temporary upper section and easy access to facilities.
RES Wyatt – ”According to the Edgbaston site, this is the “traditional cricket lovers stand which has great views behind the bowler’s arm.”
Notable Matches
Edgbaston Ashes Test (2005)
This Test match between England and Australia is part of the now-legendary 2005 Ashes series, which is one of the most iconic Ashes contests. England won the match by just two runs, which added to the intensity of the series. Andrew Flintoff’s stunning contributions with bat and ball helped to drag England over the line and swing the momentum of the series.
Edgbaston Ashes Test (2023)
A match that had everything, but saw England come out as second-best. The much-talked-about “Bazball” style of cricket was in full effect, and even with Joe Root on a century an swinging hard, England declared in a gutsy day-one move. The teams were neck and neck through a lot of the test which could have gone either way, but it was Australia who would triumph.
Brian Lara’s 500 Not Out (1994)
In 1994, the imperious Brian Lara scored 501* for Warwickshire against Durham, setting the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket. Lara was an all-time great, and Warwickshire fans got to see him at his very best.
England’s Record Chase (2022)
England beat India by 7 wickets in the fifth Test match of the delayed 2021 Indian tour, which resulted in a draw. England broke their record for the highest chase on the fifth day by scoring 378 for 3, completing an unbelievable test series that ebbed and flowed throughout, and announcing a new style of Test cricket.
