JAMIE LOVES BATTLE OF THE SIXES

AMIE SMITH has unleashed the joy of six in England’s middle order after being encouraged to knock it out of the park.

- By Mike Walters

Fearless Smith crowned a superb chase of 371 to win the opening Test against India at Headingley with back-to-back sixes off Ravindra Jadeja to seal victory.

And England’s big-hitting wicketkeeper heads to Edgbaston for Wednesday's second Test relishing his role as a licensed shotmaker behind Harry Brook and skipper Ben Stokes.

Barely a year into his Test career, Smith has shunted Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Jos Buttler down the pecking order with the gloves, averages 45.31 with the bat and he has been promoted to open in white-ball cricket.

Increasingly the Surrey keeper, who turns 25 in a fortnight, looks like England’s version of Aussie destroyer Adam Gilchrist - and he is happy to play all three formats.