England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith lit up Day 3 of the second Test against India at Edgbaston with a blistering knock, scoring his century off just 80 balls.
On a pitch where England's top order struggled, the 24-year-old counterattacked confidently and brought up his century in just 80 balls.
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With this century, Smith now holds the joint third fastest Test ton for England, equalling the record set by Harry Brook against Pakistan in 2022.
Smith’s powerful display came at a critical point when England were in deep trouble, reeling at 84 for 5 after losing Joe Root and Ben Stokes to successive deliveries off Mohammed Siraj.
Jamie Smith takes apart Prasidh Krishna to score Edgbaston century
Smith’s innings had everything from fearless strokeplay to clever footwork and sharp reading of bowlers. He showed his intent right away by dispatching his very first ball for four. That was the hat-trick delivery from Siraj, but Smith wasn’t fazed.
His real assault began during Prasidh Krishna’s eighth over. From the second to the fifth ball, he struck four boundaries and a massive six. Krishna’s over went for 23 runs that completely shifted momentum England’s way.
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Smith then reached his fifty in just 43 balls and carried on without looking back. Partnering with Brook, Smith stitched together a 100-run stand in just 89 deliveries, with Smith contributing 64 of those.
He scored his century in 80 balls to a roaring reception from the Edgbaston crowd.
Top 5 fastest Test centuries for England
Smith’s hundred now features among the elite few in England’s Test history. Here's a look at the top five:
| Rank | Balls | Player | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | GL Jessop | vs Australia | The Oval | 1902 |
| 2 | 77 | Jonny Bairstow | vs New Zealand | Nottingham | 2022 |
| =3 | 80 | Jamie Smith | vs India | Birmingham | 2025 |
| =3 | 80 | Harry Brook | vs Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2022 |
| 5 | 85 | Ben Stokes | vs New Zealand | Lord’s | 2015 |