JAMIE... HE'S A SIXY BEAST

Smith relishing big-hitting role and says: I'm given the belief to smash it

- BY MIKE WALTERS

JAMIE SMITH has unleashed the joy of six in England's middle-order powerhouse after being encouraged to knock it out of the park.

Fearless Smith crowned a superb chase of 371 to win the opening Test against India at Headingley with two sixes in four balls off Ravindra Jadeja that sealed victory.

And England's big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman heads to Edgbaston for Wednesday's second Test relishing his role at No.7 as a licensed biffer behind six-maniacs Harry Brook and skipper Ben Stokes.

Surrey star Smith, who turns 25 in a fortnight, is increasingly looking like the England version of Aussie destroyer Adam Gilchrist.

He revealed that the engine room of Brook and Stokes has become a six-hitting contest, as a sub-plot to the thrills of Bazball which has forced their opponents to spread out their fields far and wide.