ENG vs IND 2025, 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Siraj six-for puts India ahead at Edgbaston

England came back superbly on Day 3 of the second Test at Edgbaston, thanks to stunning hundreds from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook, but India maintained a 244-run lead at stumps. Despite England escaping the follow-on with a 407-run first innings, India responded with 64/1 in only 13 overs of their second innings.

India began the day on a good note, with Mohammed Siraj dismissing both Joe Root and Ben Stokes in the second over of the morning, with the latter falling for his first golden duck in Test cricket.

England, still losing by 503 at the time, was on the verge of collapse.

However, wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith and Harry Brook stabilised the ship. Smith stepped in to face the hat-trick ball and hammered it down the pitch for four. Smith completed his century in 80 deliveries, the joint-third fastest by an Englishman. Brook, on the other hand, scored his ninth Test century from 137 deliveries. The pair added 303 runs for the sixth wicket, a record for England against India at that point. After tea, England attempted to score more runs, but the second new ball put the visitors back in the game.

Akash Deep, who had already removed Duckett and Pope, ended Brook’s innings at 158. Siraj powered through the tail, finishing with a career-best 6 for 70. England lost their last five wickets for only 20 runs in 7.2 overs. Notably, Smith finished unbeaten on 184*, the highest score by an English wicketkeeper in Tests against India and third-best overall.