Edgbaston, Birmingham

Edgbaston Cricket Ground has been the beating heart of Birmingham cricket since 1886, when Warwickshire County Cricket Club first leased the land at five pounds per acre. What began as a drained patch of ground with simple wooden stands has grown into one of England's finest sporting venues, seating around 25,000 spectators following a major £32 million redevelopment completed in 2011. As the home of Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston has hosted Test matches since 1902, when Wilfred Rhodes bowled the touring Australians out for just 36. The pitch at Edgbaston is renowned for offering a genuine contest between bat and ball. Under the cloud cover that frequently rolls across Birmingham, fast bowlers find swing and seam movement early in the match, making the first session a gripping battle of survival. By the second day the surface typically settles into a true batting track with reliable bounce, before later-match deterioration can bring spinners into play. The relatively short square boundaries — under 50 metres — add an extra dimension, rewarding bold stroke-play and ensuring white-ball matches here are consistently high-scoring affairs. The ground has staged some of cricket's most unforgettable moments. Brian Lara's world-record 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham came here in 1994, a feat of endurance that may never be surpassed. The 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa — settled by a dramatic tie — is widely considered the greatest ODI ever played. But it is the second Test of the 2005 Ashes that defines Edgbaston: England won by just two runs when Steve Harmison bowled Michael Kasprowicz with Australia needing only two more, sending the Hollies Stand into delirium and writing one of cricket's most storied chapters. Edgbaston's atmosphere is famously raucous. The Hollies Stand, named after legendary Warwickshire spinner Eric Hollies, is one of the most vocal sections of any English cricket ground, with fancy-dress regulars and a carnival spirit that intensifies with every wicket. The ground sits just two miles south of Birmingham city centre and is well served by public transport, with University station a short walk away on the Cross City line. For those driving, the B4217 Pershore Road runs directly past the ground. Arriving early is half the fun — Edgbaston on a Test match morning, with the smell of coffee and anticipation hanging in the air, is one of English cricket's great experiences.