Smith and Brook breathe life into England innings

JAMIE SMITH produced the innings of his life alongside fellow centurion Harry Brook, but their blistering counterattack was not enough to stop India taking command of the second Rothesay Test.

- By RORY DOLLARD

England were in dire straits at 84 for five, Joe Root and Ben Stokes dismissed by successive deliveries in the second over of the third day at Edgbaston, before Smith and Brook put on a magnificent stand of 303 to breathe life into the cause. Smith's unbeaten 184 was a jaw-dropper, loaded with 21 fours and four sixes, and included an 80-ball century before lunch.

In passing 173 he broke his Surrey mentor Alec Stewart's record score by an England wicketkeeper and also set a new high score for a number seven, the previous mark of 175 dating back to 1897.

For 60 overs, he and Brook transformed a perilous position into a walk in the park. But when the Yorkshireman was brilliantly bowled for 158 by Akash Deep with the second new ball, the precariousness of England’s situation was exposed. They lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, India’s hasty wrap-up leaving the hosts 407 all-out and 180 adrift.

England’s scorecard made for bizarre reading, the outlandish efforts of Smith and Brook undercut by six ducks as the cavalry failed to arrive. Mohammed Siraj dismantled the tail to finish with figures of six for 70, with Deep picking up the other four.