NEW DELHI: Jamie Smith stood tall and delivered when England were staring down the barrel. Walking in with his team reeling at 84/5, the wicketkeeper-batter produced a counterattacking masterclass to slam an unbeaten 150 (innings ongoing) and pull England out of a precarious situation on Day 3 of the second Test against India at Edgbaston.Smith, just 24, partnered Harry Brook to spark a sensational fightback, embracing the Bazball approach in full flow. With Joe Root (22) and Ben Stokes (0) dismissed in quick succession, Smith arrived under pressure but responded with fearless intent and exquisite strokeplay.He reached his 150 off just 144 deliveries — the fifth-fastest by an England batter in Test history. Only Harry Brook (115 balls), Ben Stokes (135), Ben Duckett (140), and Ollie Pope (142) have been quicker.
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Against India, Smith now holds the fourth-fastest 150 in Tests, behind only Shahid Afridi (126 balls, 2006), David Warner (128, 2012), and Duckett (140, 2024).FASTEST TO 150 IN TESTS FOR ENGLAND (BY BALLS TAKEN):
- 115 – Harry Brook vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2022
- 135 – Ben Stokes vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2016
- 140 – Ben Duckett vs India, Rajkot, 2024
- 142 – Ollie Pope vs Zimbabwe, Trent Bridge, 2025
- 144 – Jamie Smith vs India, Edgbaston, 2025
Smith also brought up his century in just 80 balls — equalling the third-fastest Test hundred by an England batter, alongside Brook’s effort against Pakistan in 2022. He overtook Stokes’ 85-ball ton against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2015.
Only Gilbert Jessop (76 balls vs Australia, 1902) and Jonny Bairstow (77 balls vs New Zealand, 2022) have scored faster centuries for England in the format.Deprived of Jasprit Bumrah’s firepower, the Indian bowling attack struggled to contain Smith’s free-flowing innings. He swept and drove with confidence, peppering the boundary ropes and turning the tide of the match.
