On Day 3 of the ongoing second Test at Edgbaston, England suddenly looked in trouble early on against India. When play resumed, they were 77/3, and Mohammed Siraj struck twice in quick succession, dismissing both Joe Root and Ben Stokes. Five wickets fell for just 84 runs. England teetered on the edge of collapse.
But then everything changed. Jamie Smith and Harry Brook put on a monumental 303-run sixth-wicket stand. Both batters pounced on the Indian bowlers, turning the day completely on its head.
England eventually finished at 407 all-out as another collapse ensued after Harry Brook’s dismissal. They clocked six ducks in their innings, but thanks to the epic Brook-Jamie Smith partnership, they avoided the follow‑on. The day ended with India’s score reading 64/1. The visiting side lead by 244 runs.
Advertisement
Harry Brook, Jamie Smith’s Partnership Rescues England After Top-Order Tumble
Smith and Brook produced one of the defining partnerships of the match after England got reduced to 84/5, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj’s double-strike in the 22nd over that saw the dismissals of Root and Stokes. The Indian bowlers were on top, and a quick finish to the innings seemed likely.
But the two young batters had other plans. They stayed calm under pressure and punished anything loose. What started as a rescue mission slowly turned into domination.
Smith recorded an unbeaten 184, smashing England’s third-fastest Test century (80 balls) and becoming the highest‑scoring wicket-keeper in an innings in England Test history. Brook supported magnificently with 158, his ninth Test century.
Together, they added 303 runs, which is now the highest sixth-wicket partnership for England against India in Tests. It is also England’s third-highest overall for sixth wicket in Test cricket.
Advertisement
Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep Show Bite
When Brook finally fell to Akash Deep, bowled by a delivery that nipped in, England were 387/6. From there, the last four wickets added just 20 more runs.
Siraj delivered a clinical six-wicket haul (6/70). He bagged his fourth fifer in Test cricket. He struck twice in two balls, dismissing Root and Stokes in the morning and then landed crucial blows to England’s resistance post tea, taking the wickets of Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir, who all fell for ducks.
Akash Deep also impressed, snaring four wickets, including the vital dismissal of Brook. Six English batters recorded ducks.
England were ultimately bowled out for 407 runs as India took a lead of 180 runs after the first innings.
The day ended with India gaining a strong foothold over the match. They lost Yashasvi Jaiswal, who batted well for his 28 runs but got adjudged LBW off Tongue’s bowling. However, the Shubman Gill-led side remained in a comfortable position.
At stumps on Day 3, India’s score reads 64/1. KL Rahul and Karun Nair are batting on 28 and 7 runs respectively. The lead has swelled to 244 runs.
More About ENG vs IND 2nd Test Live Updates:
