India in dominant position despite Jamie Smith’s brilliant 184 for England

The upturned collar was the clue. Jamie Smith walked out to bat on a hat-trick with the intent of a man ready to make a difference and with his first shot sparked a performance that nobody at Edgbaston will ever forget.

One of those watching was Alec Stewart, who witnessed his record score by an England wicket-keeper broken by a player he has known at Surrey since he was a child.

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Smith stroked a hundred before lunch, compiled an unbeaten 184, surpassing Stewart’s 173 against New Zealand in 1997, and also beat the lesser known record of the highest score by an England No 7, made by another man of style, Ranjitsinhji, in Sydney in 1897. 

Smith does not look out of place in their company and at 24 is the future of English batting, the carrier of the Bazball flame along with Harry Brook, with whom he battered 303, the second highest sixth wicket stand for England.

But another extraordinary day of topsy turvy Test cricket in the life of this outlandish England team ended with them in disarray; India attacking the new ball in the hardest batting conditions of the day with he lights on to reach 64 for one, 244 ahead with two days to go.

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Smith second Test hundred and Brook’s 158 were skyscrapers on an England scorecard of flatlines. England recorded six ducks for the first time, with a 303 stand in a total of 407 a bizarre middle to an innings bookended by collapses against the two new balls to concede a lead of 180 that for most teams spells the end.

India are a strong morning session away from batting England out of the game but the question is how spooked are they by Smith and Brook? Do not dangle a carrot for this England team, leave them nothing, but the pitch is flat and showing no signs of breaking up. How long do India bat and how many overs do they need to bowl England out?

More to follow

Jamie Smith’s hundred is the third best hundred of Bazball era

10) Jonny Bairstow 106 (140 balls) v India, Edgbaston, 2022

With England 83 for five in response to India’s 416, Jonny Bairstow’s response reiterated the side’s new commitment to more expansive batting, even when in strife. Bairstow’s forceful drives and crunching cuts extended his remarkable form in the summer of 2022. His 106 hauled England back into the Test, setting up a stunning run chase.

9) Harry Brook 186 (176 balls) v New Zealand, Wellington, 2023

On the first morning, Harry Brook arrived at 21 for three at the Basin Reserve. An imperious drive to his ninth ball, from Tim Southee, singled that Brook would not be slowed down by the green-tinged wicket and early seam movement. Instead, he produced a clinical display of modern batsmanship. Brook’s range was such that he repeatedly launched good length deliveries for straight sixes, and even backed away against Neil Wagner before clearing long-on.

8) Joe Root 142 not out (173 balls) v India, Edgbaston, 2022

Since McCullum took over, no Englishman has more Test centuries than Joe Root’s 11. In the fourth Test of the new regime, Root’s undefeated 142 turned a target of 378, higher than any score that England had ever chased down, into a gentle cruise. With a delirious Hollies Stand watching on, Root added an unbroken 269 with Bairstow, who completed two remarkable centuries in the match.

7) Zak Crawley 189 (182 balls) v Australia, Old Trafford, 2023

For 4½ brilliant hours, the promise of Zak Crawley the Test batsman matched the reality. On a true, fast pitch, Crawley showed off his prowess against pace, repeatedly pulling Pat Cummins and the rest of his attack in front of square leg. Rarely has an Australian Test side in the field looked so disorientated.

6) Harry Brook 317 (322 balls) v Pakistan, Multan, 2024

England’s highest Test innings since Graham Gooch’s 333 against India in 1990. On a sumptuous wicket, Brook defied roasting heat to carve apart Pakistan’s attack, scoring at nigh-on a-run-a-ball and sharing an absurd partnership of 454 runs with Joe Root. After conceding 556 runs, England still won before lunch on the fifth day.

5) Ben Stokes 155 (214 balls) v Australia, Lords, 2023

From 193 for six, in pursuit of 371, Ben Stokes produced an epic to rival his Headingley classic four years earlier. Cheered on by a crowd riled by Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow, Stokes thrashed nine sixes, repeatedly hooking Mitchell Starc off his nose into the Allen Stand. For all the power and timing, there was calculation too: all nine of Stokes’s sixes were into the shorter part of the ground. The only thing lacking compared with Stokes’s previous feats was the ending, with England collapsing to a 43-run defeat after he succumbed trying to pull a ball towards the longer boundary for the first time.

4) Jamie Smith 184 not out (207 balls) v India, Edgbaston, 2025

Jamie Smith arrived on a hat-trick at 84 for five, with England 503 runs behind. Under four hours later he had cleared 150, while scoring at better than a-run-a-ball. From a brisk 27 off 33 balls, Smith then thrashed 58 from his next 31 deliveries – feasting on India’s short-ball tactics, and then plundering off-spinner Washington Sundar – to put Gilbert Jessop’s record for the fastest English Test century in sight. An innings that Adam Gilchrist, or indeed Rishabh Pant, would have been proud to call their own. In Smith, England now have the best No 7 in the world, but the sense is growing that he should bat higher.

3) Ben Duckett 149 (170 balls) v India, Headingley, 2025

A masterpiece of control. Facing a target of 378 runs to win, Ben Duckett survived Jasprit Bumrah’s new-ball spell with calm, and then accumulated briskly against the rest of the attack. Duckett’s reverse-sweeping off Ravindra Jadeja was at once audacious and pragmatic, in keeping with an innings that made the extraordinary look almost everyday.

2) Ollie Pope 196 (278 balls) v India, Hyderabad, 2024

No Bazball victory has come from a more unlikely position. Trailing India – who had won their past 17 home series – by 190 runs on first innings, England were 45 for one when Ollie Pope walked out to bat. He began uncertainly and could easily have been dismissed half a dozen times in his first 30 balls. But, through using his feet and both sweeping and reverse sweeping India’s brilliant spinners, Pope set up England’s Hyderabad heist.

1) Jonny Bairstow 136 (92 balls) v New Zealand, Trent Bridge, 2022

The original Bazball innings – and still the best. At tea on the final day at Trent Bridge, England needed another 160 to win, with only six wickets in hand. “Don’t even think about hitting one down, hit it into the stands,” Ben Stokes told Jonny Bairstow in the dressing room at Trent Bridge.

Bowling to a packed on-side field, Matt Henry and Trent Boult attempted to bounce Bairstow out. Rather than hit the ball down, let alone duck, Bairstow thrashed five sixes in 11 balls. In an hour after tea, he pummelled 93 from 44 balls, reaching his century only one ball slower than Gilbert Jessop in 1902. England took 16 overs to score the last 160 runs. It was astounding hitting – and the catalyst for all that has come since.

06:36 PM BST

CLOSE: IND 64/1

India lead by 244 with nine second innings wickets in hand. That was a strange day to say the least. England fought back thrillingly from 84 for five with a stand of 303 between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith who made the highest score by an England keeper and then India took five for 22 with the second new ball.

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There’s a bit of rain forecast for tomorrow. How many will India want to set England and how long will they give them to get them? I’d suggest they may try to bat all day having had their fingers singed here in 2002 and Headingley two Mondays ago.

06:32 PM BST

OVER 13: IND 64/1 (Rahul 28 Nair 7)

Karun Nair has a swing and a miss at a pull to a delivery that was way outside off stump. An England fielder shouts, ‘Oh yeah?!’ KL goes down to tell his partner to think about the morning as he has, taking a single off the first ball and sitting on his bat handle until stumps.

Nair gets the message and leaves the last three well alone.

06:28 PM BST

OVER 12: IND 63/1 (Rahul 27 Nair 7)

It has started to rain but only spitting so far. Nair blocks out a Tongue maiden and now Carse will bowl the last over of a truly preposterous day.

06:25 PM BST

OVER 11: IND 63/1 (Rahul 27 Nair 7)

A maiden for Carse to KL as a gale starts to blow. Rahul gets up on his toes to defend and although he carves a short ball on the cut he can’t beat the infield.

06:20 PM BST

OVER 10: IND 63/1 (Rahul 27 Nair 7)

Tongue lashes gravy all over a pie of a half-volley and Rahul belts it through extra-cover for four. India are 243 ahead and making hay. Carse is coming on for Woakes. Is Stokes fit to bowl? This would be made for him normally, lights on, lacquer off the new ball and a point to make after his golden duck.

06:16 PM BST

OVER 9: IND 58/1 (Rahul 22 Nair 7)

The lights are on and very necessary now. Nair works Woakes off his pads through midwicket for two then nails an on-drive off a half-volley for four. Woakes has been poor today.

06:11 PM BST

Stink averted

I reckon we could have had a real stink there if Jaiswal had been shown to be not out. He very clearly made the T sign a second or two after his 15 seconds were up. Fortunately, he was out, and takes the review with him. Pretty pathetic umpiring to go through with the review, by the way.

06:11 PM BST

OVER 8: IND 52/1 (Rahul 22 Nair 1)

Tongue can’t stop the onslaught, spraying three half-volleys and a full toss that are taken for a four and a two and then, out of nowhere, Tongue finds his length as well as some nip and zip.

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Nair leans on a drive and gets off the mark by virtue of a Duckett misfield that will have Paul Collingwood chewing his ear tonight.

06:08 PM BST

Wicket!

Jaiswal lbw b Tongue 28 Didn’t matter in the end, though I think had it not been out, Stokes would have exploded because the DRS timer was on zero. Instead he was salmon and trout, the ball would have hit middle and leg. FOW 51/1

06:06 PM BST

The third umpire is allowing the review

It hit him on both pads from round the wicket. Looks out.

06:05 PM BST

India review

Jaiswal lbw b Tongue

Hang on Stokes is insisting he ran out of time to review it.

06:04 PM BST

Tired bowlers

This has been a pretty poor start from England, with too many boundary balls. But it’s little surprise the bowlers are knackered; they only spent 89 overs – ie one day’s play – off their feet. They needed to be sitting in the dressing room all day today, not bowling for an hour.

06:02 PM BST

OVER 7: IND 45/0 (Jaiswal 22 Rahul 22)

KL takes Woakes to the cleaners with a fabulous back-foot punch for four square, a creamy, dreamy off drive for a similar return and then a crashing square cut that rifles to the boundary. It’s cat and mouse between the batsman. One gets ahead, the other matches him.

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England are in deep trouble now.

05:59 PM BST

OVER 6: IND 32/0 (Jaiswal 22 Rahul 9)

Jaiswal infuriates Carse by pulling away late but he had good reason as a chap in a red jacket pops his head above the hoardings right at that point. Carse’s screaming toes are not impressed nor will they be when Jaiswal unfurls three fours, one a thick edge that brings up 2000 Test runs for the young left-hander in record-equalling time with Rahul Dravid.

Jaiswal then leans over to off-stump to whip four through midwicket with stylish grace and then bludgeons four on the pull. England’s attack looks cooked. The thing about putting a team into bat is you tire out your bowlers if it doesn’t come off and alos tire out your batsmen mentally and physically when it’s their turn to bat. And now we have knackered bowlers who have had barely a day’s rest.

05:54 PM BST

OVER 5: IND 19/0 (Jaiswal 9 Rahul 9)

India’s openers are content just to punish the bad ball and take it for one boundary per over, exhibiting their patience. Rahul’s example in this over is glorious, a back-foot punch through point to the rope.

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India’s second new ball was jagging around. England can’t make this one do much, which may not be the ball’s fault.

Looking ahead, India should manage five an over in their second innings against a weary England attack. That means their lead will be more than 500 by tea on day four… and time to declare?

05:49 PM BST

OVER 4: IND 15/0 (Jaiswal 9 Rahul 5)

Jaiswal butchers a cut stroke off a Carse short ball for four. Pope, at backward point, didn’t see it and turns turtle, fearing decapitation but mercifully it was well wide of him. Pretty unsettling nonetheless.

05:46 PM BST

OVER 3: IND 11/0 (Jaiswal 5 Rahul 5)

Woakes thinks he might have strangled Jaiswal down the legside as he heard a noise but first the umpire and then Jamie Smith disabuse him of the notion. The bowler, coming round the wicket surprisingly early for him, bangs one in and Jaiswal is on to it in a flash, fetching it from outside off and pulling it hard and flat for four.

05:41 PM BST

OVER 2: IND 6/0 (Jaiswal 1 Rahul 5)

There be drag-ons… well, nearly. Rahul who played on in the first innings also inside-edges when defending with an angled bat, the ball missing the stumps by an inch or two.

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Carse reels off a jaffa that slants in, vaults off the pitch and nips away as Rahul’s hands instinctively follow the ball as if he fears being hit. Fortunately for him it keeps going and misses the edge. Carse pitches the next deliver up and Rahul shows his class with a corking cover drive for four, “as popular and handsome as Richard Burton”.

05:36 PM BST

OVER 1: IND 2/0 (Jaiswal 1 Rahul 1)

About an hour of play remains at the start of India’s second dig. Chris Woakes has the ball from the City End. Sorry, Birmingham End.

The Wizard of Warwicks starts back of a length on Jaiswal’s hip and he tucks it round the corner for a single. Rahul plays out three dot balls, probing the infield then gets off the mark by working the angle off middle and off through square leg for a single.

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Carse is fit enough to share new-ball duty.

It’s much gloomier as England take the new ball.

05:26 PM BST

Globes ahoy on the scorecard!

Incredible that England have a score of 407 that includes six ducks and a partnership of 303.

Fascinating to see how India approach this. A lead of 180 is vast, with two days and an hour to play on a pitch that is still not doing anything, really. India had their fingers burnt at Headingley leaving a target of 371. Surely they have to bat England way out of the game, then ask England to bat through the final day for a draw.

05:25 PM BST

ENG 407 all out

England’s first innings ends with them 180 behind. There are dark clouds now hovering over the back of Bill’s mother’s. How many of England’s bowlers are fit? Woakes and Stokes bowled fewer overs than Brook on Thursday and Carse’s foot is like an entry in an anatomy textbook.

05:20 PM BST

Wicket!

Bashir b Siraj 0 A sixth duck! After being rattled by the bouncer, Bashir shoulders arms to one that seemed on a trajectory to whistle past off but nipped back to demolish off stump. Siraj ends with 19.3-3-70-6. FOW 407 all out

05:16 PM BST

OVER 89.2: ENG 407/9 (Smith 184 Bashir 0)

After pinning Tongue, Siraj bounces Bashir and clonks him hard on the helmet, on the left temple. All the fielders and Siraj himself immediately run to the batsman who is shaken and will need a new helmet at the least. Four balls to come in the over …

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The umpires call on the drinks.

05:14 PM BST

Wicket!

Tongue lbw b Siraj 0  It was plumb. Hitting him on the shin with a nip-backer that would have gone on to hit middle and leg. England’s fifth duck and Siraj’s fifth scalp.  FOW 407/9 

05:12 PM BST

ENG review

Tongue lbw b Siraj Looked pretty plumb.

05:12 PM BST

OVER 89: ENG 407/8 (Smith 184 Tongue 0)

Smith skips down to drive but can’t beat long off so turns down the single and does the same when flashing down to third man. But he nails his next attempt at a big stroke, spanking it over long on for six when clearing his front foot. Smith ends the over with a munching, crunching off drive for four that screeches past Deep’s left ear. The bowler thought about throwing up his hand to try to catch it but valued his fingers too much. Wise choice.

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Smith now has the highest innings in history by an England stumper and…

Jamie Smith now has the highest ever score by an England No 7, breaking a record that has stood even longer than Gilbert Jessop’s fastest hundred. When Smith went past 175 he beat the score made by the great Ranjitsinhji in Sydney in 1897. Ranji hit more fours with a toothpick bat – 26 – than Smith but we do not have number of balls recorded, just minutes which was a fairly rapid 223.

05:07 PM BST

OVER 88: ENG 396/8 (Smith 174 Tongue 0)

Smith plays tip and run to cover for a single. Carse is running OK, batting boots being far more comfortable than bowling boots. But he won’t get long before having to put on the instruments of his torture after being pinned for a duck. Umpire Shrarfuddoula Saikat might favour the batsman but that’s the first one he’s got wrong.

05:04 PM BST

Wicket

Carse lbw b Siraj 0 Yes, pad first and would have hit the top of middle after nipping back. Fourth duck of the England innings. FOW 396/8

05:03 PM BST

India review

Carse lbw b Siraj  Umpire things it was bat-pad. India think it was the other way round. In which case it would be very close.

05:00 PM BST

OVER 87: ENG 395/7 (Smith 173 Carse 0)

Woakes plays and misses as he props forward to Deep’s nip-backer. This has been a very good new-ball spell by Deep and Siraj so far. When Deep nicks Woakes off, he has his fourth wicket and his best return in Tests.

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In comes Brydon Carse. A sandshoe crusher to a man bedevilled by splintered toes on his left foot would help India’s second innings.

04:56 PM BST

Wicket!

Woakes c Nair b Deep 5  Good length on off stump, shapes away off the seam and Woakes nicks off to first slip trying an expansive drive. FOW 395/7

04:54 PM BST

OVER 86: ENG 395/6 (Smith 173 Woakes 5)

Siraj is really bending his back, hitting a challenging length, short of good, at a fair lick and following it up with some glares and verbals as Smith is hurried on to the back foot to play out a maiden.

04:51 PM BST

OVER 85: ENG 395/6 (Smith 173 Woakes 5)

Deep is bowling well, a nagging line with some movement when he uses a wobble seam grip. Smith plays tip and run to point for a single and cuffs a deliver off off-stump through square leg for another. Deep tries to bounce Woakes who is susceptible to a barrage but not at this pace and he swivels to pull for a single.

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Smith joins Alec Stewart on 173 as the highest score by an England keeper.

04:44 PM BST

OVER 84: ENG 392/6 (Smith 171 Woakes 4)

England avoid the follow-on when Smith French cuts down to fine leg for a single. Woakes, as handsome a front-foot player as any, creams Siraj through extra-cover for four. The crowd roars its approval of the home town hero.

04:40 PM BST

OVER 83: ENG 387/6 (Smith 170 Woakes 0)

So the sixth-wicket partnership stalls at 303 and England, 200 behind, need one more run to avoid the follow-up. That was a hell of a good nut from Deep who now has three for 74.

Broom departs to a standing ovation and the song ‘Harry, Harry Brook’ to the tune of  the chorus of Frank Farian/Boney M’s Daddy Cool.

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Woakes defends, bobs and weaves to leave a couple, too.

04:34 PM BST

Wicket!

Brook b Deep 158 A terrific innings ended by a sensational delivery, nipping back and hitting the top of off. Perhaps the cramp in forearm and calf contributed to his groping shot as he was gated. England are 200 behind. FOW 387/6

04:34 PM BST

OVER 82: ENG 386/5 (Smith 169 Brook 158)

Too full and too much width from Siraj as he takes the new ball and Smith harpoons a square drive though point for four, absolutely tonking it. Another square drive, this one standing tall, brings him two to take the partnership to 300. What a stand this has been. England have a history of collapses, even under the current regime, and we have to remind ourselves how rare it is for two batsmen to seize the initiative so comprehensively.

04:29 PM BST

OVER 81: ENG 379/5 (Smith 162 Brook 158)

Actually Deep starts with the old ball but calls for the new after one delivery that Brook defended. Brook treats the new pill as an invitation to charge and does so with his right leg still stiffened by cramp, mowing across the line from  a metre down the pitch, playing and missing.

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After hobbling a single after clipping a full ball into the legside, he tries to stretch out his right calf with a series of lunges. Smith inside edges into his pad and is pinned next ball without the help of the bat above the knee-roll by the big nip-backer that would have missed leg stump.

Brook needs more treatment.

Jamie Smith’s highest first-class score is 234 for Surrey against Gloucestershire. I saw all of it and spoke to him about it afterwards. He was not even a regular in the Surrey side then and only got a game, as keeper-bat, when Ben Foakes hurt his back in the warm-up. Smith said he was determined to make the most of his chance and kept the ball on the ground for two days. In this innings too he has minimised risk by keeping the ball along the ground on the offside. The big difference is that he has happily “gone aerial” when hooking his sixes…

04:21 PM BST

OVER 80: ENG 376/5 (Smith 161 Brook 157)

Washington beats Brook with one angled across him and straightening. Brook totters a bit. He seems to be stricken with cramp now and runs a single like a pantomime Long John Silver. On comes the physio with something to eat and drink. No jar of Mrs Ellwood bereft of its gherkins, though.

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India will take the new ball.

It’s frustrating, of course, but if Brook’s cramp continues he might have to retire hurt. Strange for it to happen so soon after the tea break.

04:17 PM BST

OVER 79: ENG 373/5 (Smith 160 Brook 155)

Brook reaches 150 when Jadeja gives him some width, clattering a cut for a single. Smith chisels out a dart down to long off and Brook then laces a terrific cover drive for four.

A fifth score of 150+ in merely 28 Tests:

04:14 PM BST

OVER 78: ENG 366/5 (Smith 159 Brook 149)

And now it’s joint second no more. Brook and Smith surpass Andrew Flintoff and Graham Thorpe’s stand at Auckland in 2002 with Brook’s single to midwicket.

04:13 PM BST

OVER 77: ENG 365/5 (Smith 159 Brook 148)

Brook collars a rare Jadeja drag-down and spanks it over midwicket for four then cuts the left-arm spinner fine for a single.

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That single takes them to joint second-place for England’s highest sixth-wicket partnerships (281). Only the 399 between Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes at Newlands in 2016 is ahead of this.

04:09 PM BST

OVER 76: ENG 359/5 (Smith 158 Brook 143)

Sundar has the honours five overs before the new ball. Brook reverse sweeps him for a single. He is bowling round the wicket with a leg slip and trying to pitch consistently on leg-stump or outside it. Smith plays orthodox fashion and clips a single off his toes. Brook clumps another reverse sweep for two then survives the India review.

Sharfuddoula, the Bangladeshi umpire, is not a firer outer by any standard. And he was a bowler as a player.

04:07 PM BST

Not out

Hit him in line of off stump but didn’t straighten enough from round the wicket.

04:06 PM BST

India review

Brook lbw b Sundar Reverse sweeping, hit above the shin. No bat.

03:44 PM BST

TEA: ENG 355/5

A brilliant session for England. India bowled defensively, and they just batted. They barely played a shot in anger, yet still scored more than 100 runs between lunch and tea. It leaves them within sight of avoiding the follow on, and the partnership within sight of 300. Staggering stuff, and it would not be a surprise to see some fireworks in the evening session.

03:44 PM BST

OVER 75: ENG 355/5 (Smith 157 Brook 140)

Another fine session for England without the rockets, catherine wheels, roman candles and diamond cascades of this morning. England are 232 behind and the sixth wicket partnership stands at 271 after taking three runs from Jadeja’s 15th over. He is turning it now which bodes well for the fourth innings.

03:40 PM BST

OVER 74: ENG 352/5 (Smith 156 Brook 138)

Brook absolutely nails a reverse sweep, skelping it in front of point for four then uses another variant of it, the reverse paddle fine to run two, Siraj’s athleticism saving two runs on the rope,

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Brook plays the spawniest of shots, beaten for pace by the slow long-hop, he is through the shot too early but the ball hits the back of the bat and bumps over Pant’s head for four.

03:36 PM BST

OVER 73: ENG 340/5 (Smith 155 Brook 127)

Wow! Jadeja arcs one in from round the wicket that grips on middle stump and rags past Brook’s outside edge. What a delivery and is deservedly rewarded with cries of ‘Oh, Ravi Jadeja’.

03:34 PM BST

OVER 72: ENG 338/5 (Smith 154 Brook 126)

India put in a leg slip for the right-handers, opening the reverse sweep option at point but then Sundar sticks to the plan with his line, making it difficult for Brook and Smith to commit full bloodedly to the stroke. Brook does try, dragging one for a single, but Smith can only defend. Gill has been telling Sundar to bowl slower and so far it is thwarting England.

03:31 PM BST

OVER 71: ENG 337/5 (Smith 154 Brook 125)

Brook pierces cover and cover point for a pair of singles off Jadeja, Smith drives down to the point sweeper for a run.

03:26 PM BST

OVER 70: ENG 334/5 (Smith 153 Brook 123)

Spin at both ends now as Gill calls Sundar back into the attack and they milk him for two singles each, Brook’s second, driven to long on, brings up the 250 partnership.

03:22 PM BST

OVER 69: ENG 330/5 (Smith 151 Brook 121)

Jadeja gets one to spit out of the footmarks alarmingly from round the wicket to Brook. It leaps up and Pant parries to slip. Turn now for Jadeja when he hits the right area and his pace, now dropped more regularly into the mid-50s, helps that more than his earlier darts. Maiden.

03:19 PM BST

OVER 68: ENG 330/5 (Smith 151 Brook 121)

This partnership (246*) is already England’s third-highest for the sixth wicket, overtaking the 240 between Barry Knight and Peter Parfitt at Auckland in 1963.

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Brook slaps a single off the back foot through mid-on.

03:15 PM BST

OVER 67: ENG 329/5 (Smith 151 Brook 120)

Here’s Jadeja for his first post lunch spell. Dinesh Karthik says India try to control games with Jadeja rattling through overs at the cost of roughly three per. But he bowled too quickly earlier and was going at 4.8 runs per over.

His comeback over is better and yields only a single when Brook drives between point and cover.

03:11 PM BST

OVER 66: ENG 328/5 (Smith 151 Brook 119)

Brook works a single with a stir of the bottom hand to cuff an off-stump delivery through midwicket. Siraj keeps plugging away on off stump and Smith defends one then claws a single to mid-on off the inside half of the toe. Brook ends the over with a sharp single to midwicket with a meaty clip.

India’s seamers have done a reasonable job of slowing England’s charge down this afternoon, but haven’t really looked like taking a wicket due to some mature batting. Surely, though, India’s two spinners should be wheeling away at the moment. We are only 15 overs from the new ball, and it’s the hottest part of the day with an old (albeit changed) ball.

03:07 PM BST

OVER 65: ENG 325/5 (Smith 150 Brook 117)

With one eye on what’s happening in Cardiff tonight, the Hollies sing Wonderwall. Deep’s movement in to the right-handers again twice finds Smith’s inside-edge. He strolls a leg-bye when the ball misses the inside edge and Brook fillets a cut for a single.

This is really one of England’s greatest ever Test innings. Jamie Smith arrived on a hat-trick at 84-5, with England 503 runs behind. Under four hours later he’s on 150, scored at better than a-run-a-ball. It’s been chanceless, with Smith’s regal pulling standing out.

03:03 PM BST

OVER 64: ENG 323/5 (Smith 150 Brook 116)

India turn back to their best bowler, Mohammed Siraj. Brook cuts the first for a single, chopping it on to the fake grass cover of the stump mic hole on the next pitch across, dislodging it, which tickles Brook and Ian Ward as well. “I’ve never sin that before,” says Ward, a hint of pure Devon in his pronunciation. Jam first or cream first, Wardy?

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Brook almost drags on when driving but diverts the ball into his pad and then past the stumps. Brook drives a single to cover and Smith reaches 150 with a cut for a single. Good over from Siraj nonetheless. Full of pace and spice.

02:57 PM BST

OVER 63: ENG 319/5 (Smith 148 Brook 114)

Now Deep errs too short and Smith leans back to cart it through midwicket for four with a pleasing combination of golden syrup timing and brute force. Akash pitches the next two up and Smith flicks the first for a single in front of square leg, Brook clips a single behind square leg.

02:54 PM BST

OVER 62: ENG 313/5 (Smith 143 Brook 113)

England are benefiting more from the ball change than India, finding this harder pill easier to inflict violence upon than the sponge that preceded it. Smith creams a cover drive off Nitish for four and clobbers a pull for another next ball. With Nitish’s pace on this pitch, banging it in is a plainly silly tactic.

Whatever happens in the rest of this match it has become clear we are seeing the future of English batting. Jamie Smith and Harry Brook are 24 and 26. I would bet too that Brook will be the next Test captain, Smith his vice-captain.

02:48 PM BST

OVER 61: ENG 304/5 (Smith 134 Brook 113)

India have a replacement ball – the umpires called drinks on to kill two birds with one, erm, [cherry] stone. Ian Ward reckons this ball will swing having seen Akash Deep having a couple of practice deliveries to mid-on.

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Indeed it does a bit, shaping away from Brook who leaves it alone then cuffs the shorter one to deep backward square. Smith on-drives ano-ball for a single. England bowled eight no-balls in 151 overs. India have bowled 11 in 61.

Until India’s pacers started bowling wide of the wicket and slowed the scoring rate down, this partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith was on a par with the Root-Bairstow stand which saw England home here four years ago. And that was as dazzling as they come…

02:40 PM BST

OVER 60: ENG 301/5 (Smith 133 Brook 112)

India have picked two spinners but it seems less likely by the minute that they can be a force in the first innings. They may have impact later if this featherbed of a pitch wears at all but for now it’s still seam at both ends and it’s effective. Brook scythes a cut off Nitish for a single, Smith brings up England’s 300 after surviving a big leg-before appeal by virtue of a thick inside edge and Brook gleans a third single with a tip and run approach to midwicket.

Drinks.

02:36 PM BST

OVER 59: ENG 298/5 (Smith 133 Brook 109)

Akash replaces Prasidh and he continues the dry spell, going for only a single from the ball that deviated from the corridor, trying to surprise him with the inducker. An inside-edge into the pads brought him the run into the legside.

It’s 2.30 on a Friday afternoon, so the Hollies Stand is starting to liven up. There’s 40-odd blokes dressed as the Flintstones, including hard hats. Which is necessary given England’s approach with the bat.

Anyway,  they’ve noticed that England have knocked off half of India’s India’s target, so Livin On A Prayer is getting an airing.

02:31 PM BST

OVER 58: ENG 297/5 (Smith 132 Brook 109)

That’s a thumping stroke from Brook, pasting an off drive for four, mullering the ball past the fielder who was too square, flirting with extra-cover. Nitish’s next ball is too straight and Brook whisks it into the onside for a single while Smith does the same but for double the dividend.

England need another 91 to avoid the follow-on, not that India would enforce it any circumstances today.

02:27 PM BST

OVER 57: ENG 290/5 (Smith 130 Brook 104)

India’s containment strategy has certainly piqued Brook and Smith who are trying to be their best selves and not fall into the trap of doing something daft even if the number of inside-edges, Harrow drives, French cuts belie that. Just the single off the over.

02:21 PM BST

OVER 56: ENG 289/5 (Smith 130 Brook 103)

Nitish keeps pounding the channel and finds Smith’s inside edge again, yielding two runs to fine leg which just as likely could have been a wicket for India. Smith works a single through midwicket and Brook whacks a square drive for a single.

02:17 PM BST

OVER 55: ENG 285/5 (Smith 127 Brook 102)

Prasidh Krishna continues and carries on with the wide line that is exasperating Brook. Now it’s Smith’s turn to wear the straitjacket and try to break out of it. He can’t pierce the infield with three attempts at big shots then chops the ball on to his thighpad painfully off the bottom edge. Next ball also comes off the bottom/inside edge when trying to chop it down to point and lands a foot short of Pant diving forward.

Just as well that England did not lose five wickets on the second evening because Jamie Smith would have had to come in, after keeping wicket for 151 overs, and he would have been even more tired than the other England batsmen. The 151 overs in which he had to keep in India’s first innings here was the most Smith has had to keep through.

02:13 PM BST

OVER 54: ENG 284/5 (Smith 126 Brook 102)

Pant drops Smith, diving at full stretch forward and to his right. The ball hits the end of the ring finger of his right hand and goes down for four. The replay shows that Pant was typically very late in going down into his stance. Smith taps a full one back up the pitch and takes a single to bring up the 200 partnership. Brook, ticking at Nitish Kumar Reddy’s sixth-stump line, tries to throw everything but the kitchen sink at attacking strokes without success until he screws the nut and leaves the last one.

02:07 PM BST

OVER 53: ENG 279/5 (Smith 121 Brook 102)

Brook’s frustration with Prasidh’s wide line encourages him to lose his patience and try to improvise some outrageous strokes, a falling scoop, fortuitously missing the ball, a big waft, ditto, a thumping square cut that the fielder stops. Six dot balls but Prasidh succeeds in getting inside Brook’s head, just as Sri Lanka did last year.

02:04 PM BST

OVER 52: ENG 279/5 (Smith 121 Brook 102)

Smith cuts Washington’s drag-down for four. Siraj’s headlong dive, almost worm-like, almost pulls his trousers down below the knees but his dignity is preserved by his capacious pants. A prial of twos for Smith, one of them driven straight, one driven square and one lapped round the corner, keeps England rattling along.

02:00 PM BST

OVER 51: ENG 269/5 (Smith 111 Brook 102)

Brook tries to get himself to three figures – he was out, caught, for 99 at Headingley – with one hit, having a big wipe outside off at a channel ball, good length, missing it on the inside edge. A pretty similar ball next and this time Brook plays it craftily, opening the face to let it glide off the blade to third man for a single.

Smith almost plays on when he plays a cut with the bat halfway between vertical and horizontal to a ball too close to him. The ball comes off the bottom edge and bounces an inch wide of the blockhole before carroming a gnat’s whisker away from off stump. Skipping down, he opens the face to squirt a single through point.

Brook uses the width to slash at a cut and slice it wide of gully for four to bring up his ninth Test century but only his second at home.

Harry Brook was like a cat on a hot tin roof last night, but has been. so much more measured, just slotting into Smith’s slipstream, today. A fine hundred, his first against India, second at home, and ninth overall. Not bad in just your 44th innings.

01:54 PM BST

OVER 50: ENG 263/5 (Smith 110 Brook 97)

England are happy to milk Sundar for a couple of pints rather than guzzling down a gallon or two, knocking him around for five singles square of the wicket on both sides.

01:51 PM BST

OVER 49: ENG 258/5 (Smith 108 Brook 94)

Prasidh, who has gone for eight an over, is given the thankless task of opening the seam attack this afternoon. Brook plays a Root slice/glide off the back foot behind point for a single and Smith has a whoosh at a channel ball and flashes it wide of gully for two. They were trying to bounce him out before lunch and he took on the pat-a-cake bumpers with contemptuous power and panache. Now they have switched to line and length down the corridor in an attempt to contain and elicit the mistake (a bit like England this time yesterday who seemed to give up trying to get India’s batsmen out for a bit and were waiting for them to get themselves out instead).

01:47 PM BST

OVER 48: ENG 255/5 (Smith 106 Brook 93)

England begin the eighth session of the match still 338 runs behind. Washington Sundar will open the bowling from round the wicket to the two right-handers, arcing the ball on to middle and off. When he strays too wide (and short) Smith slaps it off the back foot through point for three. Brook clips a single off his toes to move to 92, eight runs short of a ninth Test century in only his 28th Test. Brook adds one more with a prod to point after Smith milked a single with a legside flick.

There are so many gaps in the field. India seem to be chasing their tails or to mix metaphors, running around an empty stable block slamming every door shut.

01:40 PM BST

Good afternoon

Bagchi here, taking over from Kieran Crichard after this morning’s fireworks. Jamie Smith’s batting is a true tonic, perfectly suited to his role at No 7. I don’t see the point of moving him up the order. They ruined Jonny Bairstow that way. Let him stay there and let him flourish. Australia didn’t shove Adam Gilchrist up when Simon Katich or Andrew Symonds struggled temporarily.

01:23 PM BST

Lunch verdict

An electrifying session of Test cricket that was extraordinary even by the standards of this England team.

Jamie Smith cracked the joint third fastest hundred by an England Test cricketer off 80 balls, flirting with Gilbert Jessop’s 123 year-old record along the way, as England claimed the honours in a session that started with the loss of their two most seasoned cricketers in successive balls.

Smith became the 16th England player to score a hundred in a session when he walloped Jadeja down the ground for his 14th four, among three sixes as well, to leave India stunned after a perfect start to their morning.

When Joe Root and Ben Stokes fell in third over to a fire breathing Mohammad Siraj, England were in deep trouble at 84 for five, trailing by more than 500.

But Smith and Harry Brook crackled with intent and made batting looks easy as they piled on 165 from 154 balls of mayhem; England speeding along at 6.7 an over in a session where they were behind the game.

Smith took on India’s short ball ploy, swiped Prasidh for two sixes over the leg side, hitting against the wind, as he reinforced his status as one of world cricket’s most exciting young batting talents.

It eclipsed Brook, one of the most destructive players in the world, who after his troubles on Thursday night looked much more solid today and reached lunch in sight of his own century.

What will happen next? Six sixes in an over? England all out within half an hour of the restart? Anything is possible.

01:18 PM BST

And breathe!

What an enthralling session of cricket that was and let’s hope for more entertainment, which I am sure there will be.

That is it from me but I will hand you over to the very capable hands of Rob Bagchi. Enjoy!

01:16 PM BST

Smith right up there

01:16 PM BST

Stuart Broad on Sky Sports

01:15 PM BST

Sensational batting

01:11 PM BST

Take a bow!

Jamie Smith joined Harry Brook at the crease early this morning at 84/5 but the pair walk off together not out 165 runs later. That was quite the partnership. Edgbaston was treated in that morning session to a clinic in batting.

01:02 PM BST

England reach lunch on day three on 249/5

This will probably be the final over of the session, even with Jadeja bowling. It may be the final over before lunch but Smith is still going to attack, smashing Jadeja back over his head for four to take him to 97.

He then sweeps hard, wanting his hundred before lunch, and the ball races away for four to take Smith to his second Test century. Take a bow! A sublime innings, taking just 81 balls to get there.

The Barmy Army are chanting to the Indian fans “You’re not singing anymore!”

The last ball is a dot and that takes us to lunch. England will not have wanted that session to finish as they head to lunch on 249/5 with Smith 102 not out and Brook on 91.

Gilbert Jessop’s record for fastest England Test century lives on, but an incredible innings from Jamie Smith. Coming in at 84-5, and scoring a chance-less 80-ball century.

12:57 PM BST

OVER 46: ENG 239/5 (Smith 93 Brook 90)

These two seem content for now rotating strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking over on the stroke of lunch.

It is right that Jamie Smith has played the match-situation and been oblivious to Gilbert Jessop’s record for England of 100 of 76 balls. He is one superb batsman. I’ll wager (no I won’t) that in Australia this winter he will score more runs than two or three of his more established teammates put together.

12:54 PM BST

OVER 45: ENG 236/5 (Smith 92 Brook 88)

Brook drives and it should be a simple stop at cover for Reddy but he inexplicably lets it through him and the ball races for four. Terrible fielding.

That boundary brings up the 150-run partnership.

12:51 PM BST

OVER 44: ENG 231/5 (Smith 92 Brook 83)

These two have batted so well but England are still a long way behind; 356 runs to be exact.

There have been fewer boundaries in recent overs but this pair are still rotating strike.

12:48 PM BST

OVER 43: ENG 228/5 (Smith 91 Brook 81)

Brook gets onto the back foot and sends one aerially through wide mid-on. There are calls of “Catch it!” but it lands well away from Siraj at long on and he cannot stop it from going for four. The ball was not too short but Brook was onto it quickly.

Just over 10 minutes until lunch.

12:46 PM BST

OVER 42: ENG 223/5 (Smith 91 Brook 76)

Brook eases onto the back foot and pushes into the offside for a couple.

Sundar then bowls a filfthy long hop and Smith dispatches it as he should off the back foot through cover for four. That delivery deserved to be whacked. Smith is into the 90s.

Smith then hits one back towards Sundar and the spinner nearly takes a good caught-and-bowled chance but it looked to land just short, although his reaction suggests he thinks it may just have carried.

12:41 PM BST

OVER 41: ENG 214/5 (Smith 86 Brook 72)

Jadeja tempts Smith into going after a wider one that grips and it spins past the outside edge. That is where Smith needs to be careful.

12:39 PM BST

OVER 40: ENG 211/5 (Smith 85 Brook 71)

It has been a thrilling session but that was a rather quiet over, going for just two runs. We are just 40 overs into the innings but England are already past the 200-run mark.

12:36 PM BST

OVER 39: ENG 209/5 (Smith 84 Brook 70)

You would not think with the fields currently in place that England are still nearly 400 runs behind.

Jadeja drops too short and Smith cuts away through backward point for four to bring up England’s 200.

Smith then comes down the ground and dispatches Jadeja over long on for six to move into the 80s. This is quite the innings from Smith, both in terms of the quality of shots as well as the match situation.

Simon Wilde, who has just written a book on Gilbert Jessop, is watching Jamie Smith very nervously. Jessop’s record for the fastest Test century was in 76 balls, though Wilde believes that the record might have been in as few balls as 72.

12:32 PM BST

OVER 38: ENG 198/5 (Smith 74 Brook 69)

Krishna is out of the attack and it will be spin from both ends as Washington Sundar is on for his first bowl of the innings. Smith immediately welcomes him to the attack with a glorious drive through wide mid-off for four.

He uses his feet and deposits Sundar through the same region for four more. He did well there as he had to reach for that shot.

He nearly makes it three boundaries in a row as he cuts late and Siraj has to make a good diving stop on the boundary to stop the four.

12:29 PM BST

OVER 37: ENG 188/5 (Smith 64 Brook 69)

Drop catch! Brook slashes at one from Jadeja and it takes a thick outside edge. It goes very quickly to Gill at slip and hits the Indian captain on the head. Reddy did brilliantly to stop the ball going for four.

That two brings up the 100 partnership in 89 balls. Gill is going to have a concussion test as it hit him quite hard on the head but he is fine to continue.

Brook then nearly chops on to the next ball.

Off the final ball Brook scoops delicately fine for four. Clever batting, spotting where the gaps are in the field.

12:24 PM BST

OVER 36: ENG 182/5 (Smith 64 Brook 62)

Brook is now the fastest player to reach 2,500 Test runs in 2,832 balls. Nasser Hussain is raising the question on Sky of playing the percentages and whether with so many fielders out for the short ball should England think twice about going after every short ball?

It may now actually make sense to give themselves room outside leg stump, like Brook is doing, and hit hard over the offside, where there are very few fielders.

Smith takes on the short ball despite the number of fielders in place for the pull and he manages to find a gap, getting four.

12:20 PM BST

OVER 35: ENG 175/5 (Smith 59 Brook 61)

Surprisingly it is quite a defensive field for Jadeja from India, despite leading by more than 400 runs. Two runs from a rapid Jadeja over.

12:17 PM BST

OVER 34: ENG 173/5 (Smith 58 Brook 60)

Krishna will continue and is still banging it into the pitch. Smith is going to continue going after it and pulls fine over fine leg’s head for six. India may feel that even if they go for a few boundaries they may get a wicket through a mistake. They remember have so many runs to play with.

This is going to be fun with the field set for short-pitch bowling for both batsmen and both Smith and Brook going for it.

Nair nearly takes a stunning diving catch at square leg to dismiss Smith but it is just out of reach. Smith has now caught up to Smith. Brook finishes the over by giving himself room outside his leg stump and guiding intelligently to wide third man for a couple.

12:12 PM BST

OVER 33: ENG 162/5 (Smith 50 Brook 57)

You cannot say as a spectator watching England bat you do not get bang for your buck. It is a thrill-a-minute. Spin is brought on for the first time today as Jadeja, who bowled two overs last night, is on.

A single through wide mid-on takes Smith to his fifth Test fifty. Well batted! It took him just 43 balls to get there.

12:05 PM BST

OVER 32: ENG 160/5 (Smith 49 Brook 56)

Krishna’s attempted short ball just sits up for Smith, who powers a pull behind square for four. Krishna goes short again and Smith goes after it once more. There are two men out but Smith does not care, depositing the short ball for six.

After those two boundaries, Gill puts another man out but Smith is not put off taking on the short ball, this time pulling well in front of square and getting four more. England are on the counter-attack. Gill has now six fielders on the legside waiting for the pull but Smith shows great intelligence, giving himself room and pulling over wide mid-on for another boundary.

With what should have been the final ball before drinks Krishna bangs one in very short and it is rightly called a wide.

Krishna then goes very full and Smith drives through mid-off for four more. What an over and some extremely good batting as we head to drinks. 23 from the over and I think Krishna may be taken out of the attack.

That was an incredible shot from Jamie Smith off Prasidh Krishna: a disdainful front foot pull through mid on. Utterly imperious. And now a four through mid off. India look ragged, which is a bizarre thing to say given their dominance in the Test. 83-2 in the first hour from 12 overs: electric cricket.

11:58 AM BST

OVER 31: ENG 137/5 (Smith 27 Brook 56)

Sublime from Brook! Siraj is too full and Brook says thank you, drilling a drive through cover for four. England will be so annoyed at themselves that they are already five down considering the pitch and the conditions, which are perfect for batting today.

That four brings up the 50 partnership between this pair.

11:54 AM BST

OVER 30: ENG 132/5 (Smith 26 Brook 52)

Brook takes a slightly risky single into the offside, especially considering England are still more than 450 runs behind, but Smith is home safely. Nair’s throw missed but Smith would have been home anyway.

Krishna gets one to move away a little from Smith, who went for the drive, but it narrowly misses the edge.

India try their hand at getting the ball changed but the umpires are having none of it, for now.

11:50 AM BST

OVER 29: ENG 130/5 (Smith 25 Brook 51)

Siraj is going to come back from the other end he started from. Brook drives one through the covers and manages to scamper back for three which brings up his 13th Test fifty in 27 Test matches. Not the best connection on that drive but it brings him three runs. That fifty is his third in his last four innings and took him 73 balls. Boy do England need him to go big today.

These two are just starting to build nicely as their partnership nears 50 but England need this pair to register a partnership much higher than 50 today.

11:43 AM BST

OVER 28: ENG 123/5 (Smith 23 Brook 47)

First change of bowling today as Prasidh Krishna replaces Siraj.

Slightly fortuitous for Brook, who looks to cut away but it comes more off the edge of the bat. There is a first/ second and a fourth/ fifth slip in place but it goes between them and away for four. Considering England trail by more than 450 runs, why do India not have more slips in place? Ravi Shastri cannot understand it speaking on Sky Sports.

Gill then puts another slip in but that feels like ‘After the Lord Mayor’s show’.

125-5, trailing by 462 runs, and there’s only one slip and a gully in place.

11:38 AM BST

OVER 27: ENG 116/5 (Smith 21 Brook 42)

With a deep square leg in place, there is a nice gap at mid-wicket for Smith to tuck into and he comes back for two with a flick off his pads. India have now plugged that gap, which has yielded a few runs for Smith in the last few Deep overs.

That is a wonderful shot from Smith as he holds the pose. Deep is too wide and Smith elegantly slashes him through point for four. That ball hit the boundary rope before you knew it.

11:34 AM BST

OVER 26: ENG 109/5 (Smith 14 Brook 42)

Just one run from Siraj’s latest over. It is amazing the effect momentum has. The pitch is not offering too much to the bowlers yet England are 109/5, replying to an Indian innings that nearly got to 600.

11:30 AM BST

OVER 25: ENG 108/5 (Smith 13 Brook 42)

A single off the back foot straight from Smith brings up the England 100 and a few cheers, perhaps more ironic than anything. WinViz has England’s chances of winning this game at 1%; probably accurate.

Do not do that Harry! Deep offers some width and it is more of a waft than anything from Brook, who nearly edges through to Pant.

A few balls later Smith pulls well in front of square and the ball gets to the boundary. That short ball from Deep just sat up from Smith and shows actually that there are not many demons in this pitch, which adds to the frustration of England already being five down.

Smith flicks the next ball through a similar area and good running brings him three.

11:26 AM BST

OVER 24: ENG 99/5 (Smith 5 Brook 41)

Beautiful. Not sure you will see many better shots than that today. Siraj is full and Brook punishes him with a delightful, elegant four through wide mid-off. Right out of the MCC handbook with a high elbow.

Like he did a couple of times in his first over, Siraj pulls out the delivery mid run-up and the crowd are not overly impressed.

Brook gets one on his hips but, unlike what he did in the first Test and Root just over 10 minutes ago, he does not send it into the hands of Pant and instead flicks it for four. If England have any chance of staying in this match, Brook is going to have to go very big here.

11:19 AM BST

OVER 23: ENG 89/5 (Smith 4 Brook 32)

A lot was made of India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah despite being 1-0 down in the series but right now they are doing perfectly fine without him. Not that you would ever actively not pick Bumrah, but if India were to go on to win this match they will then have a rested and refreshed Bumrah for the third Test at Lord’s.

A reminder England are still nearly 500 runs behind India with just half their first-innings wickets remaining.

11:15 AM BST

OVER 22: ENG 88/5 (Smith 4 Brook 31)

Hat-trick ball? No problem for Jamie Smith, who leans into a drive through mid-off and the ball races away for four.

Worst possible start to the day for England, a dream one for India.

11:12 AM BST

Wicket

Stokes c Pant b Siraj 0 England’s captain is gone for a golden duck. For the second time in this innings India have got two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Siraj bangs one in short and Stokes cannot bring his hands down in time, with the outside edge pouched by Pant. A good delivery but should Stokes have been leaving that one? Good bowling or poor batting or a bit of both? It was a good delivery that may have surprised Stokes in terms of the length but he could have left it on length. Stokes follows his vice-captain Pope in being dismissed first ball. FOW 84/5

It is a battle for Stokes with the bat and has been for two years now. He averages 24 since his last hundred against Australia at Lord’s and it is hard to think of an occasion since then when he has looked fluent. Forget those theories about him being a potential no 3 for England.

11:10 AM BST

Wicket

Root c Pant b Siraj 22 What are you doing Joe? The Sky Sports team had just been discussing Brook getting out caught down the legside in the first Test and Root suffers the same fate. Pant takes the catch down the legside and Root walks. Disastrous start for England but India’s control on this match is even firmer now. FOW 84/4

That is a Marnus Labuschagne-paced trudge off from Joe Root. He’s taking an age to get to the boundary. What a way to go on a pitch like this.

Rarely seen Joe Root trudge off the pitch slower. He can’t believe he’s been strangled down the leg side. Feels like a huge moment in the Test match. England need a captain’s innings from Ben Stokes now.

11:06 AM BST

OVER 21: ENG 83/3 (Root 22 Brook 30)

Akash Deep, who took two wickets in two balls last night, will start proceedings on day three with Root on strike. Root starts with a very solid forward defence. It is a massive no-ball though from Deep.

Just a few balls later Deep oversteps again and it is a second no-ball of this first over of the day.

He does then get a bit of movement away from Root, who had come down the wicket, and the ball goes past the outside edge. Deep needs to be careful though that he does not waste a possible wicket-taking delivery by overstepping.

The first runs off the bat come as Deep strays too straight and that is meat and drink for a player like Root, who nonchalantly flicks through wide mid-on for four. Siraj had no chance of catching up to that as the ball raced away.

Six runs from the first over of the day.

10:58 AM BST

Ready for day three

Joe Root (18 not out) and Harry Brook (30 not out) stride out to the middle in the Birmingham sunshine knowing the order of the day for England is runs, runs and even more runs.

No rain due today at Edgbaston, just plenty of sunshine so the perfect weather to score buckets of runs.

10:54 AM BST

Casting an eye forward on the bowling department

England’s bowlers are knackered, and could even have more work to do in this game. It is conceivable that they change all three frontline quicks for the Lord’s Test next week, although I sense that they are trying to nurse Chris Woakes through to play on a ground where he has such an incredible record.

It’s good, then, that the cavalry is coming back. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson should be fit for Lord’s, and Jamie Overton and Sam Cook are in the squad too.

There is some good news in the shires too. Olly Stone is ahead of schedule in his comeback, and will play a T20 for Notts tonight. Could he play Champo in a couple of weeks’ time? There is talk of Mark Wood playing for Durham against Somerset later this month too.

10:52 AM BST

Mark Butcher on Sky Sports

“It is slightly cooler with a breeze from the west but the surface has not changed a great deal. There is a bit of linear cracking starting to appear down the middle but I do not think that will have much of an impact.

“There is a patch of rough for the spinners but it is very minimal and not particularly inviting for the bowler. It is a little on the full side. England’s batsmen should look at Gill’s innings – play tight and then make plenty of runs. It is a good deck and should be a good day.”

10:49 AM BST

Shoaib Bashir speaking to Sky Sports

10:46 AM BST

Two perfect days

Shubman Gill so far could have not wished for a better game, both personally and for his team. He smashed 269 in such elegant style, took a catch last night and his team are in firm control of this match.

10:41 AM BST

Stokes in next

After his opposite number scored 269 in India’s first innings, Ben Stokes will be hoping for a good knock with the bat today. He is in next but will want to see Joe Root and Harry Brook bat together for a while before he strides to the crease.

10:33 AM BST

Back in 2022

In the rearranged fifth Test of the last series between these sides on these shores, India scored over 400 in their first innings and set England 378 to win, which they did with ease, claiming victory by seven wickets. Joe Root ended up on 142 not out whilst Jonny Bairstow finished up on 114 not out in what was an Indian summer for the latter, the first summer of the Stokes/McCullum regime.

10:23 AM BST

Back to basics?

10:23 AM BST

Polar opposites

Morning from Edgbaston. It’s been a chilly morning, but there’s some sun poking through the clouds now as the players muck around in their warm-up.

Two more different coaches you could not imagine than uber-chilled Baz McCullum and the intense and political Gautam Gambhir. Both men are previous coaches of Kolkata Knight Riders, but I don’t reckon they’d have much else in common. Anyway, they’ve been in animated, friendly conversation on the outfield this morning. They are probably talking about how much they’d have loved a bat on this pitch.

10:18 AM BST

Highest individual scores for India in Tests

Virender Sehwag- 319 vs South Africa in Chennai in 2008

Virender Sehwag- 309 vs Pakistan in Multan in 2004

Karun Nair- 303 not out vs England in Chennai in 2016

Virender Sehwag- 293 vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009

VVS Laxman- 281 vs Australia in Kolkata in 2001

Rahul Dravid- 270 vs Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2004

Shubman Gill- 269 vs England in Edgbaston in 2025

Very interesting to note none of the other six scores above Gill were made outside of the sub-continent, which highlights just how sublime an innings it was from India’s current captain.

10:15 AM BST

Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special last night

“I am not too sure what England will be thinking. I hope Ben Stokes is thinking ‘we should have batted first’. The way that England bowled today was a slight concern. There were a few things I saw in the field which made me think this looks a bit ominous going forward.

“Sometimes you bat first to grind the opposition into the dirt and that is what England looked like. They played three tired shots. It could not have gone any better for India. They got lucky because Shubman Gill wanted to bowl first and I do not know why you would even consider that.

“So far in this Bazball era they either blow teams away, chase brilliant or they get hammered. They do not play the boring draw because they have never had to. I will be intrigued to see what happens if England lose a few quick ones tomorrow and if they think we have to dig deep.”

10:11 AM BST

Tourists on top, hosts under the pump

India go into day three of the second Test at Edgbaston in the driving seat after another strong day in Birmingham. India posted 587 in their first innings, led by a majestic innings from their captain Shubman Gill. After a century in the first Test at Headingley, Gill backed that up with a magnificent double century, ending up on 269; the highest score by an Indian batsman in England and the highest score by an Indian captain anywhere in the world. Sunil Gavaskar did hold the record previously for the highest scoring Indian in an innings in England with his knock of 221 in 1979. Gill spoke after the day’s play about the areas of the game his team and him personally have been looking at.

“I worked on a few things before the series as well, that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket. Looking at the results, they are working for me. Fielding was definitely one of those things we spoke about as a team, and it is great to see that come off so far. This game was all about confidence. We spoke about if we scored 400 again, batting first or batting second, we would be right in the game.”

England’s reply got off to a woeful start as they slipped to 25-3, as Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley all fell cheaply. Duckett and Pope fell in consecutive deliveries to Akash Deep; Duckett for a five-ball duck after his 149 in the second innings of the first Test at Headingley and Pope, also a centurion in the first Test, to a golden duck. Joe Root (18 not out) and Harry Brook (30 not out) guided England to the close without losing another wicket but not without the odd scare.

Although the deficit for England currently looks enormous, they have won all three matches that they have conceded 500 or more runs in an innings during the Stokes/McCullum regime. Speaking after the second day’s play, England’s spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel has said the group are not fussed about any external noise.

“I do not think you reflect on what has happened. Hindsight is hindsight. We decided to bowl and we will stick by that. On the first day it showed enough for us and we created a lot of opportunities and it did not go our way. The day might have looked different yesterday and this morning if we got those decisions. People are going to look at any scorecard and make a decision on what they are going to think. I am not really fussed and I do not think any of us are fussed about what is said outside of the group.

“We will try to find another way to get over the line. That is the beauty of the team that we have and the players that we have and the belief they have in how they want to play the game. There are still three days of cricket left and there is lots of cricket to go. On a fast-scoring ground, you never know what can happen. We have got two of the greatest batters in the world at the crease at the moment. Hopefully they go back in, and really cash in on what could be a good day’s cricket for England.”

Day three gets under way at 11am BST.