Edgbaston has now become one of England’s most successful Test Match grounds with England’s last loss coming against South Africa back in 2008.
England vs Sri Lanka 2002
Edgbaston has now become one of England’s most successful Test Match grounds with England’s last loss coming against South Africa back in 2008.
England’s record at Edgbaston is very impressive with only eight defeats in 48 Test Matches which have included 25 victories since 1902 when Edgbaston first hosted a Test Match. It’s fair to say that England have produced some unbelievable moments at Edgbaston and some memorable victories that are now part of English cricket history.
England are once again in action at Edgbaston in an Investec Test Match with a fixture against Pakistan this summer on Wednesday 3 – Sunday 7 August and Alastair Cook and the rest of the side will be looking to add another Test victory to the previous 25 at Edgbaston. To celebrate England’s achievements at Edgbaston, we take a look at England’s top 5 Test performances, so stay tuned on Edgbaston.com as we count down to one of the greatest moments in cricket history.
Coming in at number five, its England’s fantastic victory against Sri Lanka in 2002 which they comprehensively claimed by an innings and 111 runs. What made this performance so special was that the Sri Lankan side contained some of world’s best cricketers in Kumar Sangakkarra, Sanath Jayasurija, Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas and one of the best bowlers of all-time, the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan.
England won the toss and decided to field as they looked to apply early pressure and reduce Sri Lanka to a low score. Marvan Attapattu was the first to fall for just 13 runs after being caught behind by Alec Stewart of the bowling of Matthew Hoggard. Marvan was followed by Mahela Jayawardene in the very next over in the same manner, but this it was the bowling of Andrew Caddick. England’s bowlers continued their dominant display, applying pressure at every possible opportunity and not allowing any of Sri Lankan batsmen to settle in and record big runs. Eventually, the Sri Lankans were bowled out for just 162 runs with Jayawardene top scoring with 47. England’s bowling attack proved too much for Sri Lanka with Andrew Caddick being the pick of the bunch in the first innings claiming figures of three wickets for 47 runs in 17 overs. Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor and Freddie Flintoff all chipped in with two wickets each to their names to help reduce Sri Lanka to a low first innings score.
It was now over to the batsmen with Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan given the responsibility to open the batting. England’s top order took full control of the match by smashing the Sri Lankan bowlers all over the pitch and providing the Edgbaston crowd with one of the best batting performance ever seen during a Test Match at Edgbaston. Trescothick recorded a superb century and one of the greatest at Edgbaston with 161 runs coming of just 232 balls. England continued to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers with runs now coming at a rapid pace. Graham Thorpe completed his century scoring 123 runs with Mark Butcher adding 94 and Michael Vaughan 46 – truly a fantastic performance by England with the bat and one that will be remembered at Edgbaston for a long time. England were eventually bowled out for 545 runs, including 66 fours and three sixes, and building a massive first innings lead of 383 runs.
England were now in full control and looked to close the game out with an innings victory. Sri Lanka were 132/2 close of play on Day 3 with Atapattu (56) and Jayawardene (45) both not out. The fourth day begun with Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene continuing their overnight partnership and the general feeling was that their dismissal would signal the end for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene went past fifty by playing some quality shots, particularly through the off side. However, he edged Caddick to first slip where it was taken low down by Graham Thorpe. England would have regarded the after-lunch session when the new ball became due as being crucial. The bowlers did not let them down.
It was Caddick who set the trend. With the sixth delivery using the new ball, he produced a swinging yorker to account for Tillakaratne. With the first ball of his next over, Caddick squared up de Silva to have him caught at slip by Thorpe. From the other end, Hoggard induced Russel Arnold to drive to Ashley Giles at mid-off and, two balls later, bowled Charitha Buddika for a duck. After an innings of 28 at a run-a-ball, Vaas was stumped for 28 and with Muttiah Muralitharan deciding against batting with his injured shoulder, England had won by an innings and 111 runs with Matthew Hoggard being crowned man of the match after his five wicket haul in the second innings.
This was an outstanding performance by England both with bat and bowl against a Sri Lanka side which included some real quality in their team. England were on top from the very beginning of the match and never looked in trouble with some brilliant individual performances. It was a fantastic victory which comes in at number five in England’s all-time Test performances at Edgbaston.
England take on Pakistan this summer in an Investec Test Match and tickets are on sale priced from £31 for Adults and from just £6 for Juniors (U16s). You can purchase your tickets now by calling 0844 847 1902 or clicking here and witnessing potentially another memorable Test Match at Edgbaston.
