The India vs England third Test is underway at Lord’s, and after a decent Day 1 for both sides, India and England square off on Day 2 of the match.
English batter Joe Root completed his 37th Test century, surpassing his Australian contemporary Steve Smith. However, the morning marked a special performance from Indian pace ace Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed three English batters one after the other.
The first to be dismissed was the England skipper, followed by centurion Joe Root and then Chris Woakes on the second delivery of the over after Root’s dismissal. This marked the arrival of Jamie Smith, the Edgbaston hero for England, who saved the collapse in the first innings and followed it with a stunning knock of 184*.
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Fewest innings taken to reach 1000 Test runs ft. Jamie Smith
English wicket-keeper Jamie Smith has taken the India vs England series in command, as the batter has expressed his full potential despite his presence in the English lower order.
He made his debut for the English Test side back in 2024 against the West Indies and since then has been a regular part of the side as their prime wicket-keeper batsman. The 24-year-old has played 12 Test games for England and has finally reached his 1000-run mark.
The wicket-keeper batter took just 21 innings in his Test career to reach the milestone, which makes him the joint fastest to 1000 Test runs after South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.
Another English wicket-keeper whom Jamie surpassed during the Lord’s Test was former keeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who had reached it in 22 innings, the previous best for England.
Fewest innings to 1000 Test runs by wicketkeepers:
Quinton de Kock : 21 innings
Jamie Smith : 21 innings
Dinesh Chandimal : 22 innings
Jonny Bairstow : 22 innings
Kumar Sangakkara : 22 innings
Fewest balls taken to reach 1000 Test runs ft. Jamie
Jamie Smith has been cited as one of the most fearless strikers of the red ball, as he has shown his hitting prowess several times playing for the Bazball. Jamie is currently playing his 13th test match and 21st inning at Lord’s.
He has nudged another decisive half-century coming under pressure conditions at Lord’s. Though he has a Test career strike rate of nearly 76, his current strike rate against India in the series is the best, nearly 87.33.
Jamie has taken the fewest balls for a wicket-keeper batsman to have scored 1000 Test runs. He surpassed the former record held by the former Pakistan skipper and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Notable names fastest to 1000 Test runs by wicket-keepers:
1. 1303 Jamie Smith
2. 1311 Sarfaraz Ahmed
3. 1330 Adam Gilchrist
4. 1367 Niroshan Dickwella
5. 1375 Quinton de Kock
ALSO READ: Watch: Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj fight with umpire over replacement ball in Lord’s Test
Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse revive England after Bumrah scare
Ever since Bumrah ran through the defence of the English batters with his tight bowling this morning, lower-order wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith has once again kept England in the game with a 50+ partnership alongside Brydon Carse for the 8th wicket.
Jamie himself went off to score a fifty off just 52 balls, and Carse too looked good on a 62-ball 33*. At lunch, England were 353/7. To India’s concern, Jamie was dropped for just 5 runs off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling by KL Rahul in the slips.
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