Jamie Smith for England (Source: AP Photos)
Jamie Smith started his Test career with a century against the West Indies, and since then, he has grown in stature with each passing series. Now, in the Edgbaston Test against India, he has added another glorious chapter in his brief career.
Jamie Smith's Edgbaston Heroics Takes Him At Top Of Ladder
The wicketkeeper batter played an unbeaten counter-attacking knock of 184, and in the second innings too, he is fighting for England despite wickets falling at the other end. These runs in both innings have now made him an English wicketkeeper-batter with the most runs in a single Test.
Alec Stewart had a record of scoring 204 runs in a single Test against South Africa in 1998. In that Test, he scored 40 in the first innings while he smashed 164 in the second. Smith, though, surpassed him with 22 runs in the second innings and is proving himself as a player who has the potential to serve English cricket for a long time.
Jonny Bairstow is third in the list with 199 runs in a single Test, which came at Lord's against Sri Lanka in 2016. Alan Knott and Matt Prior follow him with 197 and 192 runs respectively.
Highest Match Aggregates for an England Wicketkeeper in Tests:
260* - Jamie Smith vs India, Birmingham, 2025, This Match*
204 - Alec Stewart vs South Africa, Manchester, 1998
199 - Jonny Bairstow vs Sri Lanka, Lord’s, 2016
197 - Alan Knott vs New Zealand, Auckland, 1971
192 - Matt Prior vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 2009
England would be hoping that Jamie Smith continues his good work in the Edgbaston Test. He has a chance to become the first English wicketkeeper to score a century in both innings of a Test match and also salvage a crucial draw for his side.