Two of the great powers of world cricket will go head-to-head over five titanic days in Birmingham when England face India at Edgbaston in 2022.
The match will be the latest instalment of the passionate, longstanding rivalry between two countries which always have an eye on challenging for the number one spot in the world rankings.
And the match will evoke magical memories of their meetings at Edgbaston in 2011, when an incredible performance by Andrew Strauss’s side demolished India and took England above their vanquished opponents to world number one.
The display that clinched their place at the world’s summit was worthy of that prize. Inside a delirious Edgbaston, a star-studded India side was thrashed by an innings and 242 runs. The result gave England an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and emphatically underlined their newly-won status as the best team in the world.
The seeds of the historic win were sown on the first day when Strauss won the toss, chose to field and watched his seamers, roared on by the crowd, bowl with fire and skill to restrict India to 242. Tim Bresnan led the way with four wickets…ten years later, he would help Warwickshire to secure the County Championship title on the same Edgbaston square.
At close of play on day one, England were 84 without loss in reply. Alastair Cook was on 27 and looking solid. He stayed solid.
Cook went on to bat for seven minutes shy of 13 hours for an incredible 294 from 545 balls. While the Essex opener ground down India’s bowlers, other batters took advantage: Strauss 87, Kevin Pietersen 63, Eoin Morgan 104, Bresnan 53 not out. England finally declared on 710 for seven…a lead of 468.
It looked more than enough, especially after Jimmy Anderson took four wickets with the new ball to reduce India to 56 for four. Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann chipped in with two wickets apiece as, that number one status drawing near, Edgbaston swung into full party mode with the spectators, many in fancy dress, singing and dancing in the stands.
Bresnan applied the finishing touch. Former Bears paceman Sreesanth chopped to gully, the roof came off Edgbaston and England were on top of the world.
England v India Test Match: Limited Day Four tickets left
Day One, Two and Three are now sold out and only a limited number of tickets remain for Day Four for the England v India Test Match at Edgbaston, 1-5 July 2022.
Tickets for Day Four are available from only £26 with under 16s £6, while Day Five tickets are also on sale now.
