The Edgbaston pitch has come under heavy scrutiny after the recent Test match between India and England, where India amassed over 1000 runs. Following the high-scoring affair, Australian captain Pat Cummins has weighed in on the conditions, seemingly poking fun at the bowler-friendly nature, or lack thereof, of the Edgbaston track. Cummins quipped, "Who'd want to be a bowler over there?".

Cummins' comments came on the heels of Australia's series-clinching victory over the West Indies. The stark contrast between the pitches in the West Indies and Edgbaston was hard to ignore. While the West Indies pitches offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers, the Edgbaston surface appeared to be a batting paradise. Cummins noted the disparity, stating that the two series "look like two different sports". In the West Indies vs. Australia series, only one total surpassed 300 runs, highlighting the bowler-friendly conditions.

The Edgbaston Test witnessed a run-fest, with a record-shattering 1,692 runs scored, leading to it being labeled as one of the flattest tracks in England this century. India dominated the match, handing England a 336-run defeat. Shubman Gill etched his name in Test history, becoming the first batter to score a double century (269) and a subsequent 150 in the same match.

England captain Ben Stokes also expressed his frustration with the pitch, likening it to subcontinent conditions. Stokes lamented that his strategies fell flat due to the pitch's flat nature, which favored the Indian batsmen. The Edgbaston surface is now ranked as the fourth flattest pitch in England since pitch data began being tracked in 2005, according to Cricviz.

Historically, Edgbaston has been known to offer assistance to fast bowlers, particularly early in the match. The pitch traditionally has grass cover, providing seam and swing movement. However, as the game progresses, the surface tends to flatten out, becoming more conducive to batting. Spinners also come into play in the later stages, as wear and tear develop on the pitch.

The average first-innings score at Edgbaston over the last 10 Tests is 334. In recent times, the chasing team has found success at this ground, winning the last four Tests. This suggests that the pitch tends to favor batsmen. Since 2000, pacers have taken 490 wickets at an average of 31, while spinners have claimed 153 wickets at an average of 34.

The weather in Birmingham can also play a significant role. Cloudy conditions often lead to swing for the fast bowlers, while sunny conditions make batting easier. Most captains who win the toss at Edgbaston prefer to bat first, aiming to score big in the first innings and put pressure on the opposition.

While Edgbaston generally supports pace bowlers initially, the recent Test match defied expectations, transforming into a batting paradise. This shift prompted Cummins' humorous remark and sparked debate about the ideal balance between bat and ball in Test cricket.