Tea – England 355-5 (Smith 157, Brook 140; Siraj 3-57, Akash Deep 2-70) trail India 587 (Gill 269, Jadeja 89) by 232 runs
What looked like another difficult afternoon for England turned into a quietly defiant one, thanks to Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. From a perilous 84 for 5, the pair have put on 271 unbeaten, leaving India still ahead but suddenly short of easy answers.
India’s quicks had set the tone early. Mohammed Siraj, mixing full-length swing with the occasional surprise bouncer, removed Joe Root and Ben Stokes with consecutive balls. “At 84 for five we were obviously under pressure,” Brook admitted later. “The message was just to bat time and trust our scoring options.”
Smith took that brief literally. First ball, the would-be hat-trick delivery, he drove straight back past Siraj for four, then never really slowed. His hundred arrived from 80 balls – the joint-third-fastest by an England Test batter – capped by back-to-back boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja. “Jamie’s intent shifts the field,” batting coach Marcus Trescothick observed. “But it’s still good, percentage cricket. That matters.”
Brook, meanwhile, was happy to anchor. His second spell at the crease in the series, after falling for 99 at Headingley, ended in celebration four overs after lunch. A guided push through a gap between gully and second slip off Prasidh Krishna gave him his first hundred against India, reached from 137 deliveries. “Nice to tick that box,” he said with a grin, “though there’s plenty of work left.”
India briefly considered a bumper barrage before the drinks break. Krishna peppered Smith, but four fours and a pick-up six over fine leg suggested the tactic required finer tuning. Shubman Gill, having led with the bat earlier, threw himself around at deep square and fine leg, yet the over still cost 23. “Sometimes you have to absorb that counter-punch,” bowling coach Paras Mhambrey noted. “The second new ball is around the corner.”
That new ball, five overs old by tea, is now India’s best hope. The surface is easing; there is carry but not much sideways. Nitish Kumar Reddy did find Smith’s outside edge on 121 only for Rishabh Pant to fingertip – rather than glove – what would have been a fine catch. Small moments, big margins.
The partnership is the third-highest for England’s sixth wicket – or lower – against India. More importantly, it has trimmed the deficit to 232. A long road remains, yet the tone of the match has shifted from resignation to possibility.
“We’re still behind,” Stokes said from the dressing-room balcony, “but if those two can bat another session, anything opens up.” Sensible words, no grand promises. England have been wrecked by collapses before; today they have at least shown the other side of the coin.
Key facts up front, then. India 587, built on Gill’s majestic 269. England, wobbling at 84-5, now 355-5. Brook 140, Smith 157, partnership 271 and counting. Second new ball in play. And, quietly, a contest reborn.
