England star Harry Brook lavished praise on teammate Jamie Smith following the wicketkeeper-batter’s breathtaking century against India in the second Test at Edgbaston on July 4. Smith delivered one of the standout knocks of the match, hammering 184 off just 207 deliveries — the joint third-fastest century in England’s Test history.
England were under pressure when Smith walked in, but the 23-year-old responded with a stunning counterattack, smashing 21 fours and four sixes during his stay. Alongside Brook, he stitched together a record-breaking 303-run stand for the sixth wicket, rescuing England from a precarious position.
Reflecting on their partnership, Brook said: “It was great fun batting with Smudge. He’s a fantastic talent, and putting on a 300-run partnership with him felt amazing.”
Brook, who played a composed hand himself with a 150-run knock, was in awe of Smith’s approach. “He came out so positively and immediately put the pressure back on their bowlers. It really shifted the momentum our way. From the other end, it felt like he could find the boundary with every shot. I just focused on getting him back on strike. He makes it look so easy — just a lean and the ball races away. He’s definitely got a bright future with England.”
While Smith stormed to his century in just 80 balls, Brook’s more patient innings offered the perfect foil. Together, they powered England past the 380-run mark in the final session, avoiding the follow-on and keeping the contest alive.