England’s rising star Jamie Smith showed nerves of steel as he stormed past skipper Ben Stokes’ record to etch his name alongside the joint third-fastest Test centuries for England. His dazzling innings lit up Day 3 of the second Test against India at Edgbaston, rescuing the hosts from the brink of collapse.
Earlier, England suffered a dramatic double blow when their premier batter Joe Root fell for 22 and captain Stokes departed for a golden duck in quick succession, leaving them tottering at 84 for 5. It was then that Smith strode to the crease, determined to turn the tide, finding a resolute partner in Harry Brook at the other end. Embracing England’s fearless ‘Bazball’ mantra to the fullest, the 24-year-old launched a counterattack that left the Indian bowlers searching for answers.
With India notably missing the services of their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Smith took full advantage, unfurling a stunning array of sweeps and drives to relentlessly pierce the boundary. His electrifying century came off just 80 balls, surpassing Stokes’ 85-ball effort against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2015, and equalling Brook’s whirlwind hundred against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.
Smith now sits behind only Gilbert Jessop’s legendary 76-ball ton against Australia at The Oval in 1902 and Jonny Bairstow’s 77-ball blitz against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2022 in England’s all-time fastest Test centuries list.
Smith reached the milestone in emphatic style, punching a short delivery from Ravindra Jadeja through point for four just before lunch, prompting rapturous applause from a packed Edgbaston crowd. The entire England dressing room, led by a visibly moved Stokes, rose to salute the young batter’s audacious innings.
At the other end, Brook delivered a masterclass of his own, delighting spectators with his sublime timing and insatiable hunger for runs. He brought up his ninth Test century in just his 27th match by caressing a boundary past a diving Nitish Kumar Reddy at gully.
Brook’s latest hundred means he has now reached the milestone in only 44 Test innings, placing him third on England’s all-time list for fewest innings to nine centuries. Only the illustrious Denis Compton (37 innings) and Herbert Sutcliffe (43 innings) achieved the feat faster.
Together, Smith and Brook transformed England’s innings from disarray into a powerful statement of intent, leaving India to ponder how best to wrest back control in this enthralling contest.
