England staged a remarkable comeback against India in the second Test at Edgbaston, fueled by historic centuries from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook, despite an unusual number of ducks in their innings.
A Rollercoaster Day at Edgbaston
The second Test between England and India has seen a dramatic turnaround. Heading into the fourth day, India holds a significant lead of 244 runs, but not before England mounted a substantial fightback with the bat.
Jamie Smith, who remained unbeaten on 184, and Harry Brook, with 158 runs, were the architects of England’s resurgence. Their impressive centuries helped to stabilize the innings after a shaky start for the home side.
For India, Mohammed Siraj was the standout performer with the ball, claiming six crucial wickets. Akash Deep also made a significant contribution, taking four wickets to help India maintain their overall lead in the match.
Smith and Brook’s Record-Breaking Partnership
The 303-run stand between Jamie Smith and Harry Brook was a highlight, etching their names into the record books. This partnership was only the third time in Test history that a pair has put on more than 300 runs after their team had lost five wickets for fewer than 100 runs.
Jamie Smith’s innings was particularly special. He became the first batsman in Test history to score a century before Lunch after coming to the crease with two wickets already down in the session. His 80-ball century also ranks as the joint-third quickest ever for an England player in Tests.
Furthermore, Smith’s unbeaten 184 became the highest score ever by an England wicket-keeper in Test cricket, surpassing Alec Stewart’s long-standing record set in 1997.
Harry Brook also achieved a significant milestone, scoring his ninth Test century. He is now the fastest England batter in 96 years, since Herbert Sutcliffe, to reach this mark, accomplishing it in just 44 innings.
England’s Unprecedented Team Score
Despite the heroics of Smith and Brook, England’s innings featured a highly unusual statistic: six batsmen were dismissed for zero. This made them the first team in Test history to record a total over 400 runs (specifically 407) while having six ducks in the same innings.
Remarkably, this 407-run total is also the lowest score in Test history to include two individual centuries of 150 runs or more. Among the ducks was captain Ben Stokes, who registered his first golden duck in a staggering 202 career innings. Brydon Carse’s duck, meanwhile, was the 10,000th in all Test history, with England contributing the most to this particular tally.
Indian Milestones and Bowling Performances
On the Indian side, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his impressive form. He became the joint-fastest Indian to reach 2000 Test runs, achieving the feat in just 40 innings, matching the records of legends Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag.
Mohammed Siraj’s six-wicket haul was his first five-wicket haul on English soil. This performance also improved his strike rate in England to 50.7, making it the best among all Indian bowlers who have taken at least 30 wickets in the country.
However, there was also an unwanted record for India’s Prasidh Krishna, who currently holds the highest career economy rate (5.13) among all Test bowlers who have bowled at least 500 deliveries.
- Jamie Smith scored the highest Test century by an England wicket-keeper (184 not out).
- England became the first team to score over 400 runs with six ducks in an innings.
- Harry Brook reached nine Test centuries faster than any England batter in 96 years.
- The Brook-Smith 303-run stand was the third 300+ partnership after a team lost five wickets for under 100 runs.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal equaled Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag as the fastest Indian to 2000 Test runs.
As the match heads into day four, India will look to capitalize on their lead, while England will hope to continue their fighting spirit with the ball.
