Harry Brook and Jamie Smith stitched together a historic partnership on Day 3 of the Edgbaston Test against India that turned the momentum firmly in England’s favour. Coming together with their side in trouble at 84/5, the pair produced a counterattacking masterclass, adding over 250 runs for the sixth wicket and rewriting multiple records in the process.
Jamie Smith made headlines with a blazing century off just 80 balls, the fastest by an England batter against India in Test cricket. Harry Brook, at the other end, was equally effective and scored his ninth Test hundred.
Their record-stand not only lifted England from a precarious position but also wore down the Indian attack that had dominated the early part of the morning session.
Harry Brook, Jamie Smith’s Record-Breaking Stand at Edgbaston Stuns India
Harry Brook and Jamie Smith went on to add more than 250 runs together for the sixth wicket, rewriting the record books in the process. Their unbeaten stand of 271 runs at tea on Day 3 is now the highest sixth-wicket partnership for England against India in Test history, surpassing the previous best of 189 set by Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s in 2018. Here's the complete list:
- 268* - Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, Birmingham, 2025
- 189 - Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow, Lord’s, 2018
- 171 - Ian Botham and Bob Taylor, Wankhede, 1980
- 169 - Ian Botham and Geoff Miller, Manchester, 1982
- 165* - David Gower and Geoff Miller, Birmingham, 1979
- 159 - Godfrey Evans and Tom Graveney, Lord’s, 1952
In fact, the partnership is now third-highest for the sixth wicket in England’s Test history overall. Only Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow’s monumental 399-run stand against South Africa in 2016, and Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff’s 281-run effort versus New Zealand in 2002 stand above it.
- 399 - Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow (vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2016)
- 281 - Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff (vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 2002)
- 271* - Harry Brook and Jamie Smith – (vs India, Birmingham, 2025)
- 240 - Peter Parfitt and Barry Knight (vs New Zealand, Auckland, 1963)
Harry Brook, Jamie Smith Dominates Pre-Tea Session
Smith’s 80-ball hundred also stands out as the third-fastest by an Englishman in Tests. For India, what had started as a dream morning session with Mohammed Siraj’s twin strikes soon turned into a long grind as Brook and Smith kept going with no signs of slowing down.
As Day 3 progressed, the Brook-Smith partnership ensured England stayed alive in the match with both players unbeaten and eyeing more history.
At tea on Day 3, the score reads 355/5 with Brook and Smith unbeaten on 140 and 157 runs respectively. England currently trail by 232 runs.
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