From Botham’s brutality to Anderson’s precision, these are the spells that cut through India’s resistance and left their mark on Birmingham’s historic turf
As the second Test of the 2025 series heads to Edgbaston, India faces the familiar shadow of history. Birmingham has long been a fortress for England and a graveyard for Indian hopes. India has yet to secure a victory in eight Tests at the ground. Seven defeats and a draw clearly tell the story. But look deeper, and you'll see why the English bowlers have consistently stepped up when their team needed control of the game.
Here, we examine five of England's most impressive bowling performances against India at Edgbaston, each showcasing masterful control, pace, or sheer resilience.
Credit: ESPN
England won by 7 wickets
In the fifth Test of the rescheduled 2021–22 series, James Anderson once again made an impact with the new ball. India chose to bat and got off to a promising start. However, Anderson stepped in and continued to chip away at their resistance. He dismissed Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession.
His spell of 5/60 from 21.5 overs helped restrict India to 416. On a flat pitch, those early setbacks allowed England to gain control. They later chased 378 with ease, aided in part by Anderson's early breakthroughs.
Credit: Cricket Country
England won by an innings and 83 runs
England had already declared a massive 633/5, and India was playing for survival. But Ian Botham had other ideas. In the second innings, he turned up the intensity and took 5/70 from 29 overs, dismissing well-known players like Anshuman Gaekwad, Kapil Dev and Gundappa Viswanath.
With sharp movement and relentless lines, he ensured India couldn't establish partnerships. The result? An innings victory and another Test where Botham proved to be the standout.
Credit: Wisden
England won by 8 wickets
Chris Lewis was not the most feared name in English bowling, but on a seaming Edgbaston pitch in 1996, he outwitted India's middle order. After a tight first innings from both sides, Lewis tore through India's second innings with 5/72 from 22.4 overs.
He helped dismiss India for 219, setting up an easy 121-run target. England chased it with eight wickets remaining, and Lewis had quietly delivered one of his best Test performances.
Credit: ESPN
England won by an innings and 78 runs
Mike Hendrick was known for his relentless line and length, and in 1974, he found his rhythm against India. Bowling first, Hendrick tore into the top order, dismissing Ajit Wadekar and Gundappa Viswanath. His 4/28 from just 14.2 overs left India shell-shocked at 165.
England responded with 459/2 declared, and India never recovered. It was a ruthless display of swing and control, led by Hendrick's probing spell.
Credit: Cricket Thrills
Match drawn
Phil Edmonds was the star performer in a rare Edgbaston draw, holding India to a low score in the fourth innings. Chasing 236, he held them back with a tight spell of left-arm spin, taking 4/31 from 28 overs and dismissing star batters like Mohinder Amarnath and Dilip Vengsarkar.
He bowled with exceptional economy, just over a run per over, denying India any chance of chasing the total. Although the match ended in a draw, Edmonds' discipline nearly earned England a win.
