India and England have faced each other in eight Test matches at Edgbaston, Birmingham so far. Following the conclusion of the first Test between India and England, which the hosts won by five wickets, attention now shifts to the second Test at Edgbaston. The match is set to begin on Wednesday, July 2, with both teams currently preparing for the encounter.
England leads the five-match Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 1-0 after their victory in the opening match at Headingley, Leeds. The Ben Stokes-led side successfully chased a challenging target of 371 runs in the second innings during a high-scoring game, with the Indian bowlers struggling against a powerful English batting lineup across both innings.
After a disappointing bowling performance in the first Test, India is expected to make changes in their bowling attack for the Edgbaston Test. Meanwhile, England will be strengthened by the return of pacer Jofra Archer to their squad for the second match.
It’s worth noting that India has historically struggled against England at Edgbaston, having never won any of the eight Tests played there. England has won seven matches, with one ending in a draw. The most recent Test at this venue between the two teams took place in 2022.
India lost their most recent Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
During India’s 2021 tour of England, the fifth Test of the five-match series was postponed and rescheduled to July 2022, taking place at Edgbaston. Ahead of the game, Rohit Sharma tested positive for Covid-19, leading to Jasprit Bumrah being appointed as the team’s captain.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to field first. India’s top four batsmen fell cheaply, but centuries from Rishabh Pant (146) and Ravindra Jadeja (104) helped India post a strong first-innings total of 416. For England, James Anderson took a five-wicket haul.
In response, England were bowled out for 284, with Mohammed Siraj claiming four wickets and Jasprit Bumrah taking three, giving India a 132-run lead. However, England’s bowlers made a remarkable comeback in the second innings, dismissing India for 245, with Stokes picking up four wickets.
Setting a target of 378 runs for England, India seemed confident, but unbeaten centuries from Joe Root (142) and Jonny Bairstow (114) helped England chase down the target with seven wickets to spare. This chase marked England’s highest successful run chase in Test cricket history.
Jonny Bairstow was named Player of the Match for his twin centuries. With this win, the five-match series concluded in a 2-2 draw.
