Edgbaston Cricket Ground sits in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England, and has served as the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 1894. The Cricket Ground Company acquired the site in 1885, and the ground staged its first match, against the MCC, in June 1886. It has since grown into one of the sport’s great arenas, now ranking as the fourth-largest cricket venue in England behind only Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
The ground hosted its first men’s Test match between England and Australia in May 1902 and has since staged some of cricket’s most memorable moments, including matches at the 2019 Cricket World Cup that England won on home soil, the 2017 Champions Trophy, and England’s first day/night Test on home turf in 2017.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Warwickshire CCC, Birmingham Bears, Birmingham Phoenix, Central Sparks
- Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
- Opened: 1885 (site acquired); first match played 1886
- Capacity: About 25,000
- First Test match: England vs Australia, May 1902
- Notable fact: Home to the famously boisterous Eric Hollies Stand
The Match-Day Experience
What sets Edgbaston apart from England’s other Test venues is its atmosphere, generated in large part by the Eric Hollies Stand. Named after the Warwickshire spinner who bowled Don Bradman for a duck in his final Test innings, the stand has become known as English cricket’s loudest and most fancy-dress-friendly party section, drawing comparisons to a football terrace more than a traditional cricket enclosure.
Beyond the Hollies Stand, the ground has repeatedly proven itself a venue for record-breaking cricket. England posted 710 for 7 declared against India there in 2011, still the highest Test innings total recorded at the ground, while a first-ODI total over 400 against New Zealand in 2015 marked the first time England had ever passed 400 in a one-day international.
A Modern Venue Built on History
Edgbaston has kept pace with the modern game while retaining its identity as a traditional county ground. It staged the first senior floodlit cricket match in England back in 1997 and later hosted women’s T20 cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The ground has also undergone repeated redevelopment over the decades, most recently with plans to replace aging stands as it continues preparing to host future Ashes and international fixtures.
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Edgbaston Cricket Ground FAQs
Where is Edgbaston Cricket Ground located?
It is located in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England, and has been the home ground of Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 1894.
What is the capacity of Edgbaston Cricket Ground?
The ground currently holds about 25,000 spectators, making it the fourth-largest cricket venue in England.
Why is the Eric Hollies Stand famous?
Named after Warwickshire bowler Eric Hollies, who famously dismissed Don Bradman for a duck in 1948, the stand is known for its raucous, fancy-dress atmosphere and is considered one of the liveliest sections in English cricket.
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Photo: JimmyGuano / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.