Record Run Chase In Birmingham Tests: Highest 4th Innings Score At Edgbaston

Australia will have to register their highest successful run-chase at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground to win the ongoing first Ashes 2023 Test match against England. Four wickets apiece from the Australia captain Pat Cummins (4/63) and off-spinner Nathan Lyon (4/80) have placed the visitors right back into the contest as an exciting final day’s play awaits the fans.

It was this very English side which had accomplished a record run-chase in Birmingham Test just the previous year in July against India. In fact, they are the only side to have chased down a target in excess of the 300-run mark across the 55 Tests in the city since the year 1902.

Having said that, Australia can take inspiration from their experience during Ashes 2005 when they were in a nearly similar situation during the fourth innings of the match at this venue. Chasing a 282-run target back then, the Aussies had agonizingly fallen short by 2 runs as England registered a win for the ages.

As for the ongoing match, Australia are required to chase down a target of 281 runs. With seven wickets in the bank, the Cummins-led side require another 174 runs on Day 5.

Record Run Chase In Birmingham Tests (updated)

As mentioned above, England had registered a record run-chase in Birmingham during the fifth Test against India in 2022. Individual centuries from Joe Root (142*) and Jonny Bairstow (114*) during the fourth innings had helped them in sealing a record run chase, with seven wickets still remaining in the bank.

If Australia are to win tomorrow, they will have to accomplish a joint second-highest successful run-chase in the format at this venue.

S.No.	Target	Team	Opposition	Year
1	378	England	India	2022
2	281	South Africa	England	2008
3	281	Australia	England	2023
4	208	England	New Zealand	1999
5	152	West Indies	England	1991

Highest 4th Innings Score At Edgbaston (updated)

Australia are placed on the third spot in the list of highest 4th innings score at Edgbaston. Tail-enders in Shane Warne (42), Brett Lee (43) and Michael Kasprowicz (20) had managed to pull of off a near miracle 18 years ago.

However, as mentioned above, they had lost the match by 2 runs as Kasprowicz couldn’t get out of the way of a Steve Harmison bouncer and got caught by the wicket-keeper.

S.No.	Score	Team	Opposition	Year
1	378/3	England	India	2022
2	283/5	South Africa	England	2008
3	282/8	Australia	England	2023
4	279	Australia	England	2005
5	277	India	England	1967