Cricket at Edgbaston: Top 5 individual Test batting performances from the venue

#5. David Gower 215 for England vs Australia, 15th August 1985.

David Gower

As the English hosted Australia in 1985, everyone expected an equal competition. They were not disappointed as the scoreline read 1 - 1 as they walked into the fifth Test match of the series at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Winning the toss, England put Australia in to bat first, and the Aussies responded with a respectable 335. But the best was yet to come, as the English batsmen took to the crease. At 38/1, when David Gower walked in, it looked like England could make or break the game from there. As Gower partnered Robinson, England went on to put 595 on board, thanks to Robinson's ton and Gower's double ton.

Gower stood at the crease for a total of seven hours and 32 minutes, took 343 balls, smashed twenty-five fours and a six and collected 215 runs, summing up a very effective knock that threatened to blow the match away in England's favour.

Had Australia not succumbed to the England bowlers for a pathetic 134, the win would have been at least a little more difficult. England thus completed yet another famous win at their beloved stadium, effectively on the shoulders of a single batsman. David Gower was also adjudged man-of-the-match.