Alistair. Reeling from losses in the first two Tests, India were at the receiving end of a 294 from future England captain Alastair Cook in the third Test at Edgbaston in 2011.
Birmingham. The city was home to numerous English greats, but also to overseas stars like Rohan Kanhai, Deryck Murray, and Alvin Kallicharran, all of whom played for Warwickshire in the 1970s.
Chetan. After starring with the ball for India in the opening Test at Lord’s in the 1986 series, Chetan Sharma missed the second Test at Leeds through injury for India to summon Madan Lal from league cricket. Chetan came roaring back for the drawn third Test at Edgbaston, where he claimed 10 wickets.
David. Elegant left-hander David Gower loved doing things in style. He did exactly that through his imperious double hundred when the 1979 series opened at Edgbaston.
England. This cricketing giant has an overwhelming Test record against India at Edgbaston – seven wins in eight Tests. India has some catching up to do here.
Four. That’s how many specialist spinners the MAK Pataudi-led Indian team fielded in the 1967 Edgbaston Test. It was the only time the famous spin quartet of Bedi, Chandra, Venkat and Prasanna figured together in a playing XI.
Gavaskar. Imagine getting out in the first ball of a Test match, and walking off without the umpire declaring you out, only for the debutant umpire to express his displeasure at being denied from signalling out. That’s what Sunil Gavaskar did and witnessed Bill Alley’s disappointment.
Hendrick. England’s first change bowler enjoyed success in the 1974 and 1979 Tests versus India, which went the hosts’ way. In 1974 he claimed seven in the match, which included GR Vishwanath’s wicket on both innings while in 1979, he claimed six Indian wickets.
Ian. From 182-3 in the second innings of the 1979 Test, India collapsed to 253 all out. A certain Ian Botham struck with the ball and sent back key batsmen Gaekwad, Vishwanath, Mohinder and Kapil Dev to ensure an England win.
Jadeja. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined Rishabh Pant as the second century-maker in India’s first innings here during the 2022 Test.
Kapil. He would have made history by becoming the first India captain to lead his team to a 3-0 whitewash over England. But Kapil Dev saw the hosts avoiding their third defeat on the bounce after Lord’s and Leeds.
Lloyd. We enjoy David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd’s expert comments. But did you know that he was involved in two Test victories over India at Edgbaston? As a double centurion in 1974 and as coach of England in 1996.
Mike. England’s captain Mike Denness in the 1974 Test against India experienced a 3-0 victory finish to the series here, but his next Test at Edgbaston (vs Australia in 1975) was a loss that cost him his captaincy.
Naik. Departed India opener Sudhir Naik’s highest Test score of 77 was achieved on his Test debut in the 1974 game here. He slugged it out for 210 minutes before perishing to Tony Greig through a dubious LBW decision.
Old. England pacer Chris Old will not forget the way he dismissed Ashok Mankad at Edgbaston in 1974. The Indian batsmen’s cap landed on his leg and middle stumps.
Patel. Sachin Tendulkar brought up his hundred with a six against Mumbai-born debutant left-arm spinner Min Patel in 1996.
Qasim. The Pakistani tailender’s mouth injury via a Bob Willis bouncer in the 1978 Test underlined the need for batsmen to wear helmets.
Ravichandran. Asked to open the bowling for the first time on English soil, Ravichandran Ashwin unsettled England’s top-order with three wickets here in 2018. England eventually won.
Smith. Among overseas batsmen, South Africa’s Graeme Smith is the highest individual scorer at Edgbaston — 277 in 2003.
Tendulkar. Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s second innings’ 122 in 1996 forced commentator Richie Benaud to tell his viewers that they won’t see a better hundred in the summer. He was quick to add that a better century wouldn’t be seen next year either.
Unstoppable. England’s batting machine was just this in the 1974 Test. The hosts lost just two wickets in the Test.
Virender. India opener Virender Sehwag ended up with a pair of spectacles in the 2011 Test through his two first-ball ducks.
Warwickshire. The county which once had the great Brian Lara playing for them. His best? An unbeaten 501 against Durham in 1994.
X-factor. England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith could well be the X-factor in this Test after his two 40-plus innings at Leeds.
Yuvraj. The dashing cricketer found himself out of the reckoning for the 2011 Test due to a fracture on his left index finger in the
previous Test.
Zaheer. Not India’s Zaheer Khan, but Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas, who smashed 274 in his first Test on English soil here in 1971.
mid-day’s Deputy Editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance.
He tweets @ClaytonMurzello. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
The views expressed in this column are the individual’s and don’t represent those of the paper.