Everything You Should Know About Edgbaston Cricket Ground

As well as an incredible lifestyle and apartment offering, we have the iconic Edgbaston Cricket ground right on our doorstep. Now one of the most important world venues for the sport – and also the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 1885 – we thought we’d take residents old and new on a virtual tour.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this stand-out stadium, from its history and famous matches to visiting today.

Let’s dive in!

Where is Edgbaston Cricket Ground?

But first, we need to get situated.

As the name suggests, Edgbaston Cricket ground is right next to Corkfield, in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston in Birmingham. So close, in fact, we can see the stadium from our stunning rooftop terrace- with some balconies getting a selective, sweeping view of one of the most-watched places in sporting history.

A historical place

Speaking of history, Edgbaston’s very own stretches back to the 17th century. First starting out as Warwickshire County Cricket Club, founded on April 8, 1882, during a meeting in Leamington Spa – the new club needed a place to play.

Although Leamington was initially chosen, secretary William Ansell decided to choose Birmingham as base, thanks to its larger population. Sure to draw crowds, the team were first offered a 12-acre ‘meadow of rough grazing land’ on the banks of the River Rea by the Calthorpe Estate.

This was one of the first places to be developed in the then-newly created manor of Edgbaston.

Three years later, the club agreed a lease for the land – a whopping £5 per acre over a 21-year period – with the first match taking place the following June in 1886.

Warwickshire versus the MCC was watched by 3,000 spectators over the two days, already indicating a large interest in the sport. That figure doubled a few months later, when Australia visited.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Major matches

Edgbaston Cricket Ground has been home to many popular matches over the years, thanks to fast innovation, a sparkling reputation and ultimately, fierce competition.

In 1902, just eight years after gaining first-class status, Edgbaston hosted its first Test, against Australia. To mark this momentous occasion, the club erected a permanent stand and brought two temporary stands across from Villa Park.

There were also provisions made for just under a hundred journalists reporting on a match, with the press noting multiple high-stakes games for nearly 150 years.

One impressive feat from Warwickshire includes a 110 year stretch of County Championship title wins, running from 1911 to 2021 – with eight under their belts in total. The 1951 match for that year’s Championship welcomed record numbers, seeing Edgbaston teeming with 28,000 people to see them play against Lancashire.

But that’s not all. The stadium is home to plenty of feats, including the the first competitive floodlit day-night cricket match in Britain back in 1997, the inaugural Women’s World Cup Final in 1973 – when England beat Australia – and Brian Lara scoring his world record-beating 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in ‘94.

Of course, Edgbaston isn’t resting on its laurels, with plenty in development for future matches and match-fans alike.

Fan-tastic facilities

If you have yet to visit Edgbaston Cricket Ground – then what’s taking you so long? With an electric atmosphere, reputed to be one of the best places in the world to enjoy a game, the stadium has been making steady improvements over the past few years.

Following a £32,000 refurbishment in 2011, Edgbaston’s capacity has increased to nearly 25,000, with further improvements ahead, including a new ‘Plaza’ to the grounds themselves.

So really, there’s never been a better time to come and watch a game, or take a tour around this landmark stadium!

Things to know before your visit

First things first: arrive early. If you’re getting ready to watch a game, Edgbaston Stadium opens 1.5 hours before the session starts. Of course, Corkfield residents can wander over whenever they please – the perks of being neighbours, of course – but for those travelling in by car, note that there is no parking at or near the venue, unless you’re a blue badge holder.

On the topic of accessibility, the ground is an outdoor stadium with some cover, boasting accessible routes, with existing and temporary accessible facilities such as larger toilet blocks.

As for food and drink, there are plenty of places on-site to grab a snack or something heftier. There are also alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks for sale, but please note Edgbaston Stadium is a cashless venue for all your purchases.