Jamie Smith betters captain Ben Stokes' record, becomes first England batter to...

Jamie Smith lit up Edgbaston connected Day 3 of the 2nd Test with a blistering period that not lone revived England’s innings but besides etched his sanction successful the grounds books. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter brought up his 100 successful conscionable 80 balls against a relentless Indian attack, making it the joint-third fastest Test period for England successful presumption of balls faced.

In doing so, Smith overtook Ben Stokes, his existent captain, whose fastest was an 85-ball ton against New Zealand astatine Lord’s successful 2015. The milestone came astatine a important constituent of the game. England had been reduced to 77/3 astatine stumps connected Day 2 and mislaid some Joe Root and Stokes aboriginal connected Day 3. The second departed for a aureate duck, the archetypal specified dismissal successful his Test career. But conscionable erstwhile India looked acceptable to tighten their grip connected the game, Smith and Harry Brook counterpunched with centuries that kept England afloat.

Fastest Test centuries for England (by balls faced)

Additionally, Smith is besides the archetypal England batter to people 100+ runs successful a league earlier lunch, having not been unbeaten overnight.Brook, whose sanction besides features conscionable supra Smith successful the database of fastest centuries, looked arsenic assured successful his approach. His period besides acceptable different record, arsenic helium became the subordinate with the third-lowest innings needed to scope 9 tons for England successful Tests. Brook's grounds of 44 innings is lone down Herbert Sutcliffe (43) and Denis Compton (37).

While Stokes suffered a uncommon failure, Smith delivered a show that could awesome a semipermanent solution to England’s middle-order. With the bid hanging successful the equilibrium astatine 1-0, the concern betwixt Brook and Smith has ensured the hosts remained successful contention successful the 2nd Test remains.