Jamie Smith's Blazing Century Electrifies England’s Comeback Against India
So let’s talk about what just happened in the England v India second Test—and more specifically, about Jamie Smith. If you missed it, you’ve missed something extraordinary . This wasn’t just good cricket—it was that rare kind of innings that flips a match on its head and gets everyone talking.
Day three at Edgbaston started off tense. England were wobbling at 84 for 5, the Indian bowlers were in full control, and it looked like the visitors might steamroll the hosts again. Then Jamie Smith walked out—and everything changed. What followed was nothing short of electric.
Also Read:- Oasis Returns with a Roar: A Night 16 Years in the Making
- Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon Dream Ends in Third Round Thriller
Smith launched an astonishing counter-attack that brought the crowd to life. In one over alone, he smashed five boundaries off Prasidh Krishna—yes, 23 runs in a single over ! That’s the kind of stuff you see in white-ball cricket, not a Test match when the team’s five wickets down. But that’s the thing about Smith—he plays with fearlessness, and more importantly, with intent.
His innings wasn’t just aggressive—it was calculated, brutal, and immensely skillful. He reached his fifty in just 43 balls, and then pressed on to complete a century before lunch. Not just any century either—it came off 80 balls, packed with 14 fours and three sixes. To put that in perspective, it’s tied for the third-fastest Test hundred in England’s history. That’s a big deal. Especially when you consider the match context: England were on the ropes, and Smith essentially picked them up, dusted them off, and threw a few punches of his own.
What’s more, he did it with composure. At one point, the commentators joked that he looked like he was born with a bat in his hands. And maybe they weren’t far off—this wasn’t fluke form. His early stats are insane: an average over 50, a strike-rate north of 75 as a wicketkeeper, and already two centuries in just 12 Tests. He’s only behind the likes of AB de Villiers and Andy Flower in terms of average for keepers with 500+ runs. That’s rare air.
Even when the tempo slowed after lunch, Smith and Harry Brook kept their heads. Their partnership passed 150 runs in just 23 overs. Smith survived a tough dropped catch by Rishabh Pant on 121, but luck tends to favor the bold—and bold he was.
Is Jamie Smith the next great England keeper-batter? The comparisons to Adam Gilchrist or Jonny Bairstow are already starting. And if today’s innings is anything to go by, he’s more than just hype. He’s the real deal. Whether you call him the Guildford Gilchrist or just Jamie Smith, remember this knock—because it felt like the start of something much bigger.
And for India? Well, they’ll be scratching their heads. A dominant position was turned into a battleground. That’s the beauty of Test cricket, and that’s the magic of moments like this. Jamie Smith didn’t just make runs—he made a statement.
Read More:
0 Comments