Ashes 2023, England vs Australia 1st Test: Birmingham Edgbaston Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, Stats & Record

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Perennial rivals will begin the battle for the urn as England and Australia are set to lock horns in the first Test of the Ashes 2023 at the Edgbaston in Birmingham, starting from Friday (June 16).

Ben Stokes-led England head into the five-match Test series on the back of a victory over neighbours Ireland in a one-off four-day Test, while Pat Cummins' Australia are fresh from the World Test Championship mace-clinching win against India.

England will look to end Australia's six-year-long hold of the urn, while the men from Down Under will look to win their first Ashes series in enemy territory since 2001, starting with a win in the first Test at the Edgbaston in Birmingham.

This will be the sixteenth time the venue will play hosts to the Ashes rivals. England has beaten Australia six times, while Australia has got the better of England in four matches with five matches ending in a draw.

Here is a look at the Edgbaston Test Stats and Record along with Pitch Report and the Birmingham Weather Forecast ahead of England vs Australia 1st Test:

Edgbaston Stadium Information

Founded: 1882

Seating Capacity: 24,000

Ends: Birmingham End and Pavilion End

Number of international matches hosted: 54 Tests, 64 ODIs and 6 T20Is

Edgbaston Pitch Report

The pitches at the Edgbaston, like most venues in England, will provide assistance to seamers, proving a challenge for batters in the early stages. But, run-scoring gets easy if the tough period is seen off and the batter is set. However, the spinners may also come into play on the final day.

Also, the last match at the venue has seen England pull off a big run chase against India thanks to their aggressive approach in play. The wickets also was a little easy to bat on in that match.

Birmingham Weather Forecast from June 16 to June 20

The forecast on Friday (June 16) and Saturday (June 17) indicates warm and cloudy days with max temperature rising to 26^o C. But there is threat of rain on the third day the match - Sunday (June 18), with chance of showers and thunderstorms with a max temperature of 22^o C.

The forecast for Monday (June 19), the penultimate day, however, sees a warm day with variable cloudiness with maximum temperature of 23^o C, but the final day (Tuesday, June 20), the threat of rain returns as there is chance of a couple of showers with max temperature of 23^o C.

Edgbaston Test Stats and Record

Matches: 54

Home Team Won: 29

Visiting Team Won: 10

Match Drawn: 15

Matches Won Batting 1st: 18

Matches Won Batting 2nd: 21

Highest Team Total: 710/7 Declared by England vs India in 2011

Highest Successful Chase: 378/3 by England vs India in 2022

Lowest Team Total: 30 All Out by South Africa vs England in 1924

Average 1st Innings Score: 306

Average 2nd Innings Score: 316

Average 3rd Innings Score: 243

Average 4th Innings Score: 160

Highest Individual Score: Alastair Cook - 294 vs India in 2011

Best Bowling Innings: Wilfred Rhodes (England) - 7 for 17 vs Australia in 1902

Best Bowling Match: Fred Trueman (England) - 12 for 119 vs West Indies in 1963

Most Runs: Alastair Cook (England) - 869 runs in 16 innings

Most Fifties: Mike Atherton (England) - 6 fifties

Most Hundreds: 3 - Marcus Trescothick (England), Mike Gatting (England), Colin Cowdrey (England)

Most Double Hundreds: Alastair Cook (England) - 2

Most Wickets: James Anderson (England) - 51 wickets in 25 innings

Most 5 Wicket Innings: Fred Trueman (England), James Anderson (England) & Shane Warne (Australia) - 3

England vs Australia Test Record at Edgbaston

Matches: 15

England Won: 6

Australia Won: 4

Drawn: 5

England Won Batting 1st: 2

Australia Won Batting 1st: 2

England Won Batting 2nd: 4

Australia Won Batting 2nd: 3

England Highest Total vs Australia in Edgbaston: 595

England Lowest Total vs Australia in Edgbaston: 101

Australia Highest Total vs England in Edgbaston: 576

Australia Lowest Total vs England in Edgbaston: 36

Ashes 2023 England vs Australia 1st Test Dates, Timing and Telecast Info

Match Dates: Friday, June 16 to Tuesday, June 20

Match Start Time (Everyday): 3:30 PM IST

TV Channels: Sony Sports TEN 5 SD and HD channels

Live Streaming: Sony LIV (subscription required)