SMASHER SMUDGE

Jamie's brutal attack drags England back from brink

- from MIKE WALTERS

HARRY BROOK heaped praise on his accomplice Jamie Smith after their triple-century stand saved England in a feast-or-famine tale of six ducks.

Smith's fabulous 80-ball hundred, leading to an unbeaten 184 - the high est-ever score by an England wicket keeper - and Brook's 158 rescued them from wipeout at Edgbaston.

England were teetering on 84-5 in reply to India’s 587 all out until the Smith-Brook double act piled on 303 in 61 overs for the sixth wicket.

Eventually they were bowled out for 407 with six batters failing to score, and India were 244 runs ahead on 64-1 at the close.

Brook said: “The way ‘Smudge’ came out of the blocks and put the pressure back on the bowlers was phenomenal.

“He is so good to watch from the other end - it feels like he could score four or six from every ball.

“To have him in the side at No.7 is awesome with the depth we've got.