Birmingham, July 4 (UNI) Jamie Smith and Harry Brook orchestrated a breathtaking counterattack on Day 3 of the second Test at Edgbaston, lifting England from the depths of 84 for 5 to 355 for 5 at tea, and restoring parity in a match India once looked to have firmly in control.
Earlier in the morning today, Mohammed Siraj ripped through England’s middle-order in a fiery burst, dismissing Joe Root and Ben Stokes off successive deliveries in the 22nd over. Root feathered a leg-side flick to Rishabh Pant, while Stokes gloved a sharp rising ball to the keeper, leaving England reeling at 84 for 5.
But from the wreckage emerged a stunning rescue act—brave, bold and brilliant. Jamie Smith and the prolific Brook stitched together an unbroken 271-run partnership for the sixth wicket by tea, countering India’s attack with calculated aggression and silken strokeplay.
Smith, unfazed by the scoreboard pressure, launched into a series of commanding strokes. He first reached fifty off 43 balls, then surged to his maiden Test hundred in just 80 deliveries with a sweeping boundary off Ravindra Jadeja. His composure was matched by his flair—pulling Akash Deep in front of square for four, driving Nitish Reddy through extra cover with surgical precision, and even surviving a tough chance off a thick edge that Pant failed to hold. By the 63rd over, he had raised his bat for a maiden 150, to raucous applause.
Brook, playing the anchor role early, grew in authority as the innings progressed. His hundred came off 137 balls, reached with a backfoot glide off Prasidh Krishna, his ninth Test ton. He unfurled drives down the ground, powerful pulls, and signature reverse sweeps, one of which thundered past deep backward point. By tea, he had powered his way to 140.
The Indian bowlers, so potent in the morning, lost their sting as the pair unleashed a flurry of boundaries. Washington Sundar, in particular, endured a tough session. Brook punished him with back-to-back sweeps and pulls, while one delivery even bizarrely ricocheted off Brook’s back and flew over Pant for four. Sundar nearly had his man in the 76th over with a close LBW call, but replays showed it was sliding past off.
Jadeja, too, was driven and swept with ease, while Nitish Reddy and Krishna saw their lengths dismantled by Smith and Brook’s commanding strokeplay. A flurry of landmarks followed—England’s 250 in 47.2 overs, 300 in 59.5, and the 250-run stand in the 70th.
Even the fielders were under pressure: Siraj’s dive at sweeper cover saved a boundary, and another failed attempt saw him lose balance and his trousers, summing up India’s frustrations in a chaotic afternoon.
At tea, England had stormed to 355 for 5 in 75 overs, with Smith unbeaten on 157 and Brook on 140. The partnership, now one of the most memorable in recent English Test history, has redefined the complexion of the game. Though India still have a commanding first-innings total of 587, the game has tilted into a contest brimming with possibilities.
Brief Scores (Tea, Day 3): England 355/5 in 75 overs (Jamie Smith 157 not out, Harry Brook 140 not out; M Siraj 3(/57); India 1st innings: 587 all out
