ENG vs IND, 2nd Test: Brook, Smith dazzle but Siraj has the final say on Day 3

England vs India, 2nd Test: India ended Day 3 of the second Test at 64 for 1, extending their lead to 244 runs after Mohammed Siraj's six-wicket haul helped bowl England out for 407 - despite a commanding, unbeaten 184 from Jamie Smith - at Edgbaston on Friday.

In Short

• India ended Day 3 in a commanding position with a 244-run lead
• Mohammed Siraj took six wickets, while Akash Deep bagged four
• Harry Brook and Jamie Smith helped England post 407 at Edgbaston

They call it moving day for a reason - and at Edgbaston, Day 3 moved like a storm. Momentum swung, tempers flared, and the script rewrote itself by the hour. From collapse to counterattack and back again, it was Test cricket at its most intoxicating. By stumps, India stood tall—244 runs ahead, nine wickets intact, and the game in their grip. At the heart of it all was Mohammed Siraj - unrelenting, animated, and by the end of it, victorious.

The tone was set early - brutally early. The second new ball was barely eight deliveries old when Siraj struck gold. First, Joe Root feathered one down the leg side, undone by subtle seam and extra bounce. One ball later, the cauldron roared as Ben Stokes walked out, only to be ambushed by a spiteful lifter that leapt at him, brushed the glove, and landed safely in Pant's mitts. England, teetering at 84 for 5, had blinked in the morning light.

Ten balls. Two wickets. The storm had arrived - and Siraj was the eye of it.

BROOK-SMITH DAZZLE

Then came the defiance - unexpected, dazzling and deeply compelling.

From 84 for 5 to a position of dominance, England’s revival at Edgbaston was scripted by Jamie Smith and Harry Brook in thrilling fashion. Smith set the tone with a confident four off the hat-trick ball, and what followed was a counter-attack that floored India. A generous slip cordon didn’t help, as the duo cashed in on every scoring opportunity.

Brook settled in with fluent boundaries, bringing up his half-century with a neat drive for three. Smith, though, went into overdrive. He hammered Prasidh Krishna for four fours and a six in a 23-run over, surging to 49 off 38 balls by drinks. India’s short-ball strategy fell flat, as Smith pulled with precision and purpose.

ENG vs IND 2nd Test Day 3 Highlights

Then came the defiance — unexpected, dazzling, and deeply compelling.

From 84 for 5 to a position of dominance, England’s revival at Edgbaston was scripted by Jamie Smith and Harry Brook in thrilling fashion. Smith set the tone with a confident four off the hat-trick ball, and what followed was a counter-attack that floored India. A generous slip cordon didn’t help, as the duo cashed in on every scoring opportunity.

Brook settled in with fluent boundaries, bringing up his half-century with a neat drive for three. Smith, though, went into overdrive. He hammered Prasidh Krishna for four fours and a six in a 23-run over, racing to 49 off 38 balls by drinks. India’s short-ball strategy fell flat as Smith pulled with precision and authority.

Spin offered little respite. Smith drove Sundar twice through extra cover before taking on Jadeja with a four and six in consecutive balls. He brought up a blazing 80-ball century just before lunch — the session yielding a staggering 172 runs without the loss of a wicket.

After lunch, the tempo dipped slightly but the partnership remained rock-solid. Brook notched up his ninth Test hundred with a cut off Prasidh, while Smith had a lucky escape on 121 — Pant shelling a tough chance. The duo soon brought up a 200-run stand — the first English sixth-wicket partnership of its kind against India.

Smith resumed his assault against Nitish Reddy, lacing back-to-back boundaries to storm into the 140s before raising a 150 off just 144 balls — the fifth-fastest for England. The second new ball brought little relief, conceding 22 runs in five overs, before spin returned to apply some brakes. Still, the pair had stitched 250 together by then.

Post-tea, India reviewed an LBW shout against Brook in the very first over, only for ball-tracking to show it missing leg. Unfazed, Brook raised his 150 off 222 balls — a calm, calculated innings that underlined England's remarkable fightback as the hosts avoided the follow-on.

SIRAJ, AKASH STEP UP WITH NEW BALL

The second new ball did the trick. After a long, fruitless spell, Akash Deep finally found the perfect inswinger — one that nipped back sharply from outside off and crashed into Brook’s off-stump. The marathon stand was broken, and so was England’s resistance.

From 387 for 5, the hosts folded for 407, losing their last five wickets for just 20 runs in the space of 7.2 overs. Chris Woakes, who had joined Smith as England narrowly avoided the follow-on, lasted only a few overs. Going for an expansive drive, he edged to first slip, where Karun Nair took a smart low catch. Akash finished with a career-best 4 for 88 — a vital hand in ripping through the middle order.

Siraj returned for one final burst, and the tail offered little resistance. After a successful review for LBW against Brydon Carse - the ball jagging back and striking flush on the front pad - Siraj steamed through the rest. Tongue and Bashir followed quickly, as the pacer wrapped up a superb spell with 6 for 70 - his fourth five-wicket haul and first on English soil.

Smith, stranded on 184 not out, had already scripted history by becoming England’s highest-scoring Test wicketkeeper, eclipsing Alec Stewart. With partners running out, he briefly freed his arms — launching Akash for a six over long-on and a drive for four — but the counterattack fizzled just as quickly.

Fittingly, it was the same duo that did the early damage who returned to finish the job. Between them, Siraj and Akash Deep polished off the innings in ruthless fashion, handing India a commanding 180-run first-innings lead — a reward for relentless discipline and timely aggression.

KL, YASHASVI EXTEND INDIA'S LEAD

India, with a 180-run lead, came out brimming with intent under darkening skies. Yashasvi Jaiswal was fluent from the outset, punching six boundaries in a 22-ball 28 before being trapped LBW by Josh Tongue. A delayed DRS review added a dash of drama, but the on-field call stood.

Before his dismissal, Jaiswal had become the joint-fastest Indian to 2000 Test runs - matching Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag at 40 innings - thanks to a thick edge that flew to the boundary.

The 51-run opening stand came in a blur, forcing England into early bowling changes. KL Rahul, watchful and assured, remained unbeaten as India closed Day 3 on 64 for 1 in just 13 overs, stretching their lead to 244.

It was a day of shifting moods - England rode a record stand between Brook and Smith to claw back, only to collapse spectacularly. Siraj and Akash Deep shared the final five wickets for just 20 runs, with Siraj finishing with a fiery 6 for 70.

Brook and Smith had revived England. But it was Siraj - opening the day with fire, ending it with a flourish - who defined it.

- Ends