Siraj strikes twice before Smith smashes sensational hundred

Smith and Harry Brook punish Indian bowling as England add 172 runs in first session on Day 3

- Agencies

Jamie Smith struck a stunning century before lunch as England hit back against India in the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday.

England were in dire straits at 84-5 early in the third day of the second Test after Mohammed Siraj had taken two wickets in two balls, removing star batsman Joe Root and dismissing Ben Stokes for the first golden duck of the captain's Test career.

But at lunch they were 249-5, still 338 runs behind India’s first-innings 567 built on captain Shubman Gill's superb 269.

Smith was 102 not out, the wicketkeeper’s hundred having come off just 80 balls, including 14 fours and three sixes.

Harry Brook, no slouch himself, was 91 not out with the pair having added an unbroken 165 runs for the sixth-wicket in sensational style.

Smith’s second hundred in his 12 Tests equalled Brook’s 80-ball effort against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in 2022.

Only Gilbert Jessop, with a hundred off 76 balls against Australia at the Oval back in 1902 and Jonny Bairstow, with a 77-ball ton against New Zealand at Trent Bridge three years ago have scored faster Test centuries for England, in terms of balls faced.

England resumed on 77-3, with Root 18 not out and Brook 30 not out.