Birmingham
Birmingham would host the first Test match between India and England. Image Courtesy: Getty

If there were one venue concerning crowd support, which India would have loved to play on to commence the Test series, it would have to be at Birmingham, England.

With a massive Asian diaspora, Virat Kohli’s men will relish the prospect of continued crowd support across the duration of the game against England. However, their opponents and hosts England too would be licking their lips with the venue of the first Test being Birmingham.

Birmingham throughout has stood out as England’s fortress, with the hosts having quite a dominating record out here. India too had fond memories of this very venue, not in the same format though. It was right here on a chilly evening of June 2013, when MS Dhoni lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 title to create history.

A lot has changed within these five years, and in the span, India has toured England once in between. There might not have been a game between the two sides on India’s previous tour at this venue, but with Birmingham set to host the first Test of the five-match Test series, a lot will depend upon the outcome of the game.

Last game at the venue –

The last time a Test was played at Edgbaston, it was a historic occasion, as the game against the Windies, marked the first ever Day and Night Test in England. Apart from that feat though, the match was nothing more than an absolute one-sided drubbing.

Birmingham England
England beat Windies by a significant margin at Birmingham last year. Image Courtesy: Getty

England went on to register one of their biggest wins regarding margins, as they crushed the Windies by an innings and 209 runs inside three days. Alastair Cook enjoyed the outing with a masterful knock of 243. Incidentally, that was Cook’s last foray into three digits at home and he will be eager to add to that tally come the first of August.

England’s record in Birmingham

The hosts enjoy a tremendous record at Birmingham, with 27 wins in 50 Tests. The Joe Root-led side will be eager to get that tally to 28 in what is to be the side’s 1000th Test.

Apart from England, only one other side has managed to win more than one Test out here. Australia, with three wins, stands the only team on the list.

Apart from the number of wins, it is England’s terrific win-loss ratio which makes them a terrorising outfit at Birmingham. A rate of 3.375 is too menacing, and for a team like India, which has usually been a slow starting visiting side, the signs look pretty grim.

INDIA’S RECORD AT THE VENUE:

Comprising of all their previous tours to England, the Indians have played a total of six Tests in Birmingham. Ironically, not a single one of those outings have resulted in a win, with the side having lost five.

India England Tests Birmingham
Image Courtesy: Getty

India’s best result in Birmingham was a drawn game during their best tour to England till date, in 1986. The tour of 1986 saw India win two games and the final Test at Birmingham could have been yet another victory, had it not been for the lack of time.

Needing 236 to win on the final day, the visitors ended up with a total of 174-5 in 78 overs, as the game came to an end. However, the result was sweet, as India sealed the series 2-0 to mark a somewhat memorable tour.

Past battles between sides –

India and England clashed here last during India’s ill fated tour of 2011. It was the third Test of the series, which saw the MS Dhoni-led outfit lose its number one position and the series. India were simply decimated, as Alastair Cook’s personal best score of 294 was just too hot to handle.

Birmingham
Alastair Cook completed his double hundred when both India and England faced off in a Test at Birmingham last time in 2011. Image Courtesy: Getty

The misery of the Indian batting lineup was witnessed, as the visitors were embarrassed by an innings and 242 runs, to mark one of their heaviest defeats of all time.

Conditions – 

In all, the conditions at Birmingham usually assist the pacers with plenty of swing on offer. The likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad have made a career out of exploiting the conditions on offer, and things are no different this time around.

Ravi Ashwin Virat Kohli
Ravi Ashwin could come into play during India’s first Test in Birmingham.

However, a spell of dry conditions could impact the game in India’s favor with the slow bowlers coming in.

Prediction –

In all, to battle England out, India will have to play out of their skins to win the game. Being the first game of the series, a lot will depend upon the result of Edgbaston. If needed, India shouldn’t hesitate from using two spinners.

A cricket buff who lives the game fully. A die hard supporter of the Indian cricket Team. Sachin Tendulkar remains my inspiration.