Warwickshire highest team total Vitality Blast records are anchored by a 242/2 chase at Edgbaston, the home ground of the Birmingham Bears in Birmingham, England. This venue has hosted 121 T20 Blast matches since the format's introduction in 2014, establishing it as a key statistical hub for county cricket.
The 242/2 total, set in July 2015, remains the benchmark for batting dominance at the stadium. Edgbaston also holds the record for the lowest team total in the competition, 39/4 by Lancashire, highlighting the venue's capacity for both high-scoring thrillers and low-scoring tactical battles.
Overview
The scoring patterns at Edgbaston are bookended by extreme team totals that highlight the venue's capacity for both explosive batting and tight bowling performances. The highest team total recorded is 242/2, achieved by Warwickshire on 3 July 2015. This innings set a high benchmark for chasing teams and demonstrated the pitch's potential for high-scoring encounters. In contrast, the lowest team total is 39/4, posted by Lancashire on 19 June 2016. This low score reflects the variability of conditions at the ground, where bowlers can exploit the surface to restrict runs significantly.
Individual performances at Edgbaston have also produced notable records within the Vitality Blast. The highest individual batting score is 158, scored by BB McCullum during Warwickshire's 242/2 total on 3 July 2015. This innings remains a standout performance in the venue's T20 Blast history. On the bowling front, the best figures are 6/16, recorded by TMJ Smith on 2 September 2020. These statistics underscore the competitive depth of the matches held at Edgbaston, where both batsmen and bowlers have delivered exceptional displays over the 121-match span.
What is the highest team total at Edgbaston in the Vitality Blast?
The highest team total recorded at Edgbaston in the T20 Blast is 242/2, achieved by Warwickshire on 2015-07-03. This innings stands as the peak scoring performance among the 121 matches played at the venue between 2014-06-19 and 2026-05-31. The match against Derbyshire produced the most significant individual contribution in the venue's history, with BB McCullum scoring 158 runs. McCullum's century was the defining factor in the 242/2 total, establishing a benchmark for batting dominance on the Birmingham pitch.
Warwickshire's 242/2 remains the ceiling for team scores at Edgbaston, contrasting sharply with the venue's lowest recorded total of 39/4 by Lancashire on 2016-06-19. The 2015 match featuring McCullum's 158 is the only instance where a team has surpassed the 240-run mark in the competition at this ground. No other innings in the 121-match dataset has approached this aggregate, highlighting the exceptional nature of the 2015 performance. The record reflects the high-scoring potential of the Edgbaston surface when conditions favor the batsman, as demonstrated by the 242/2 total.
Lowest team totals and bowling records at Edgbaston
Defensive dominance at Edgbaston is best illustrated by Lancashire’s collapse to 39/4 against Warwickshire on 2016-06-19. This total stands as the lowest team score recorded in the T20 Blast at this venue, highlighting the potential for batting fragility under specific match dynamics. The brevity of the innings suggests a combination of tight bowling spells and critical wickets falling at key junctures, reducing the impact of the typically expansive outfield.
Bowling excellence at the ground reached its peak with TMJ Smith’s figures of 6/16 on 2020-09-02. These best bowling figures demonstrate the ability of a single bowler to dismantle a batting lineup, contributing significantly to the venue’s record of low-scoring encounters. Such performances are often pivotal in T20 Blast matches, where a six-wicket haul can effectively seal the game before the final over.
The contrast between the highest and lowest team totals underscores the variability of conditions at Edgbaston. While the pitch can facilitate high-scoring chases, as seen in other matches, it also offers enough grip and bounce to reward disciplined bowling. This duality makes the venue a strategic battleground for teams in the Vitality Blast, requiring adaptability in both batting and bowling approaches.
Team participation and match frequency
Birmingham Bears have established themselves as the most frequent participants at Edgbaston within the T20 Blast format. The franchise has contested 56 matches at this venue, significantly outpacing other county sides in terms of sheer volume. This high frequency of play underscores the ground's status as the primary home base for the Bears, allowing them to leverage familiarity with the pitch conditions and local atmosphere more than any other team.
The dataset covering this venue spans from the first recorded match on 2014-06-19 through to the most recent fixture on 2026-05-31. Over this twelve-year period, a total of 121 T20 Blast matches have been played at Edgbaston. The concentration of games involving the Birmingham Bears means they account for nearly half of all contests held at the stadium, highlighting the structural importance of the venue to the county's scheduling and strategic planning.
Home advantage is a critical factor in T20 cricket, and the Bears' extensive record at Edgbaston provides a robust sample size for analyzing performance trends. While other teams visit the ground for away fixtures, the disparity in match counts between the host and visitors is stark. This imbalance affects head-to-head statistics and can influence tactical decisions, such as batting order selections and bowling changes, as teams adapt to the specific characteristics of the Edgbaston pitch over time.
The longevity of the T20 Blast at Edgbaston, beginning in 2014, has allowed for the accumulation of significant statistical data. The 121 matches provide a comprehensive view of how teams have performed under various conditions, from early season games to late-stage knockout fixtures. The Bears' dominance in terms of match frequency at their home ground remains a defining feature of the venue's competitive landscape.
How do Warwickshire's Vitality Blast records compare to other counties?
Warwickshire's 242/2 stands as the definitive benchmark for batting dominance at Edgbaston in the T20 Blast. This total, achieved on 2015-07-03, remains the highest team score recorded across 121 matches at the venue. The magnitude of this chase highlights the ground's capacity to produce high-scoring encounters when conditions align with the batsmen. Such a score is significantly higher than the venue's lowest recorded total of 39/4 by Lancashire on 2016-06-19. This wide variance between the ceiling and floor of team scores indicates that Edgbaston does not favor one discipline exclusively but rather rewards the team that adapts best to the specific match conditions.
The individual performance that anchored Warwickshire's record total was a 158-run innings by BB McCullum. This score, also recorded on 2015-07-03, is the highest individual batting score at the ground. McCullum's century demonstrates how a single player can exploit the dimensions of the Warwickshire home ground to post a massive individual tally. This performance is a key component of the venue's batting reputation, showing that the pitch can support long, high-scoring innings when the ball comes off the track nicely.
While batting records draw attention, the bowling figures at Edgbaston also show significant variance. The best bowling figures recorded are 6/16 by TMJ Smith on 2020-09-02. This performance contrasts sharply with the high-scoring nature of the 2015 match, proving that bowlers can also dominate when the pitch offers assistance. The presence of both extreme batting and bowling records suggests that Edgbaston is a versatile venue where either side can take control depending on the state of the pitch and the weather.
Birmingham Bears have played 56 matches at the venue, making them the most active team. This frequency of play allows for a substantial sample size to analyze trends. The data spans from the first match on 2014-06-19 to the most recent on 2026-05-31. Over this period, the venue has hosted a wide range of outcomes, from the 242/2 high to the 39/4 low. This historical depth confirms that Edgbaston's character is defined by its ability to produce diverse results, making it a challenging ground for both batting and bowling units in the T20 Blast.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest team total at Edgbaston in the Vitality Blast?
The highest team total is 242/2 by Warwickshire, achieved on 2015-07-03.
Who scored the highest individual batting score at Edgbaston?
BB McCullum holds the record for the highest individual batting score with 158 runs, also scored on 2015-07-03.
What are the best bowling figures at Edgbaston in the Vitality Blast?
The best bowling figures are 6/16 by TMJ Smith, recorded on 2020-09-02.
Which team has played the most matches at Edgbaston?
Birmingham Bears are the most active team at the venue with 56 matches played.
What is the lowest team total at Edgbaston?
The lowest team total is 39/4 by Lancashire, set on 2016-06-19.
Summary
Edgbaston has hosted 121 T20 Blast matches between 2014 and 2026. The venue's statistical extremes include a highest team total of 242/2 by Warwickshire and a lowest team total of 39/4 by Lancashire. BB McCullum's 158-run innings and TMJ Smith's 6/16 bowling performance stand out as the premier individual records at the ground.