Jamie Smith in Test cricket (Source: AP Photos)
Jamie Smith, the 24-year-old English wicketkeeper batter, has notched up a 80-ball century against India at Edgbaston on Day 3. It is the fastest hundred by an English batter against India in Test cricket, and he has gone past Ben Duckett, who scored his ton in 88 balls.
It is Jamie Smith's second hundred in Test cricket, with the first one coming in his debut game against the West Indies. His counter-attacking knock has brought England back on track after being reduced to 84-5 early on Day 3. Brook and Smith have stitched together an unbeaten stand of 165 for the sixth wicket, and England have scored 172 runs in the opening session to take their score to 249 -5 at Lunch.
Jamie Smith Equals Brook In Legendary List With A Blistering Ton
Overall, the English wicketkeeper batter has broken plenty of records with his hundred. His 80-ball century is the joint third-fastest century in the format for England. He has joined Harry Brook while Gilbert Jessop and Jonny Bairstow hold the number one and second place respectively.
List Of Fastest Centuries By English Batter In Test Cricket
- 76 - Gilbert Jessop vs Australia, The Oval, 1902
- 77 - Jonny Bairstow vs New Zealand, Trent Bridge, 2022
- 80 - Harry Brook vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2022
- 80 - Jamie Smith vs India, Edgbaston, 2025
- 85 - Ben Stokes vs New Zealand, Lord's, 2015
Smith is also now fourth on the list of fastest centuries by a batter against India in Test cricket. The highlight of his hundred was the 23-run over against Prasidh Krishna, and his knock has completely changed the momentum of the game, which was looking like a one-way traffic in favour of India.
India are still ahead by 338 runs, and so England need both Harry Brook and Jamie Smith to continue their partnership in the second session. India, on the other hand, would be looking to break the stand as quickly as possible and take that big first innings lead.