Jamie Smith produced a sensational counterattacking century to breathe life into England’s innings on day three of the second Test against India. His blistering 80-ball ton — the joint-third fastest by an Englishman in Test history — helped England reach 249 for 5 at lunch, though they still trail India’s imposing first-innings total by 338 runs.
Smith’s achievement was all the more remarkable given the circumstances under which he walked to the crease. Mohammed Siraj had just rocked England with a double strike in the second over of the morning session, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes with successive deliveries to set up a hat-trick ball. Root fell to a strangle down the leg side, edging to Rishabh Pant, while Stokes was undone by a vicious rising delivery that brushed his gloves and lobbed to slip — handing England’s captain his first-ever golden duck in Tests. It also marked only the second instance of England’s top six producing three ducks in an innings.
At 84 for 5, trailing by 503, England looked to be in complete disarray. But Smith responded to the hat-trick ball in style, driving it emphatically down the ground for four to signal his intent. From that point on, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter launched a breathtaking counteroffensive that left India’s bowlers scrambling.
He found an able partner in Harry Brook, who began the day on 30. While Brook initially looked to steady the ship, he soon matched Smith’s tempo, racing to an unbeaten 91* by lunch. The pair’s unbroken sixth-wicket stand has already added 165 runs off just 154 balls — a partnership that has dragged England back from the brink.
Smith’s innings shifted gears dramatically when Prasidh Krishna attempted to bounce him out before the drinks break. That tactic backfired spectacularly. Smith took 23 runs off the over, peppering the boundary with four fours and a huge six over fine leg. Undeterred, India persisted with the short-ball ploy, only for Smith to smash another six over backward square leg off the first ball of Krishna’s next over.
Smith reached his fifty from just 43 balls, his sixth score above fifty in Tests. He then dismantled India’s spinners with ease — driving Washington Sundar for consecutive cover boundaries and dispatching Ravindra Jadeja for a cut through point and a lofted shot over long-off.
At one stage, he seemed on course to break Gilbert Jessop’s record for the fastest Test century by an England player. Needing 16 runs from nine balls to claim it outright — amid some debate over whether Jessop’s century came off 72 or 76 deliveries — Smith sensibly eased off as lunch neared. Even so, he completed his century within the session with a pair of commanding strokes against Jadeja: first lifting him back down the ground, then whipping him through midwicket.
The Edgbaston crowd roared their approval as Smith walked off unbeaten on 102, having struck 17 boundaries and two sixes in a thrilling display of aggressive batting. At the other end, Brook remained solid, his measured yet assertive 91* ensuring India’s bowlers could not focus solely on Smith.
Despite conceding 172 runs in the session — the third-most India have ever given up in a single session — Rohit Sharma’s side still hold a significant lead and will look to regroup quickly. But for now, Jamie Smith’s extraordinary counterpunch has given England hope of producing a memorable fightback at Edgbaston.
