Harry Brook and Jamie Smith Shine in Historic Partnership Against India

In a thrilling display of cricket, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith forged a remarkable 303-run partnership during the first Test against India at Edgbaston. Their performance not only shifted the momentum in England's favor but also set multiple records, including the highest score by a wicketkeeper for England in Tests. Brook praised Smith's aggressive batting style, which played a crucial role in their success. As the match unfolds, India leads by 244 runs, with both teams showcasing their skills in this historic contest. Read on to discover more about this exciting day in cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 5, 2025, 03:14 IST

A Memorable Day for England's Batters

On July 5, during the first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, England's Harry Brook expressed his delight in partnering with Jamie Smith, whose dynamic batting style significantly altered the game's momentum in the first innings.

Brook and Smith achieved a remarkable 303-run partnership on the third day of the Test, setting multiple records in the process.

Their explosive collaboration captivated fans, as 'Bazball' tactics propelled England from a precarious 84/5 to a commanding 387/6.

In the post-match interview, Brook remarked, "It was fantastic to be out there with Smith, a phenomenal player. Our 300-run partnership was a great experience. His aggressive start really put pressure back on the bowlers, shifting the momentum in our favor for a significant period."

This 303-run stand marks the third instance of a 300-plus partnership for England at the sixth wicket or lower in Test history, following the 399-run partnership between Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in 2016 and the 332-run stand between Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad in 2010.

Additionally, it stands as the third 300-plus partnership for England against India, following Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen's 350-run partnership in 2011 and Graham Gooch and Allan Lamb's 308-run stand in 1990.

Brook and Smith are now the third duo to achieve a 300-plus partnership for the sixth wicket or lower after the team was down for less than 100 runs, a feat previously accomplished in 1937 and 2014.

Praising Smith's innings of 184, Brook added, "It was incredible to watch from the other end; it felt like he could hit a four or six every ball, and I was just focused on getting him on strike."

Smith made history by scoring the highest innings (184*) by a wicketkeeper for England in Test matches, surpassing Alec Stewart's previous record of 173 against New Zealand in 1997.

He also set the record for the highest Test score from the No. 7 position or lower for England, breaking KS Ranjitsinhji's 175 against Australia in 1897.

Smith reached his century in just 80 balls, matching the third-fastest Test hundred by an England player, alongside Brook's achievement against Pakistan in 2022.

In the match, Mohammed Siraj took six wickets, helping India bowl out England for 407 runs, giving them a first-innings lead of 180 runs. Akash Deep contributed with four wickets as well. By the end of Day 3, India had lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for 28 runs, with KL Rahul and Karun Nair at the crease, finishing the day at 64/1, leading by 244 runs.

Brief score: India: 587 (Shubman Gill 269, Ravindra Jadeja 89, Shoaib Bashir 3/167) vs England: 407 (Jamie Smith 184*, Harry Brook 158; Mohammed Siraj 6/70). India 64/1 (KL Rahul 28*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 28; Josh Tongue 1/12).