- July 5, 2025
Edgbaston is a unique ground. It is a venue where history not only occupies seats in the stands but often walks onto the pitch and bats, too. And on day three of the 2025 second Test between England and India, while Joe Root and Ben Stokes may have come to expect their share of news coverage, it was to be Harry Brook and Jamie Smith who stole the headlines with an unfathomably historic partnership, one that surprised everyone, even Birmingham.
At 84/5 in response to India’s whopping 587, England looked as though they were going to lose in a one-sided fashion. But, as cricket often does, when you least expect it… Brook and Smith didn’t just save England, they rewrote the Edgbaston record books while doing it.
Breaking a Record Held by Pant & Jadeja? That’s No Joke
Let’s put that into context. The previous best sixth-wicket partnership in Edgbaston Test match history was the incredible partnership of 222 runs between Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja against the same opponent in 2022. Their partnership was entertaining and dramatic, and epitomized Pant’s carefree style. It felt untouchable until now.
So come, Brook and Smith.
The duo strode in under pressure, with a mountain of runs to overcome and a fiery India bowling attack in full swing. What followed was a counter-punch of the highest class. Brook, already an aggressive, stylish player, gave calmness and control. Jamie Smith, slightly more of a project prior to this match, looked like a man on a mission.
The pair put together a 223 stand in a short time (and counting) that not only surpassed Pant & Jadeja’s effort, but it was done in a way that looked almost effortless.
India’s Bowling Woes: Out of Ideas and Out of Luck
With a lead of over 500 ahead in the first innings, you do not expect the team with the lead to be pressurized on day three. But that’s exactly what India found itself in, and it wasn’t for want of effort. Mohammed Siraj gave it his all, with three wickets straight away to unsettle the English top order. But having got Brook and Smith settled in, the plan seemed to go out the window.
Jasprit Bumrah seemed to be slightly out of rhythm. Ravindra Jadeja did not have the usual bite we expect him to have. Kuldeep Yadav, brought into this Test, looked more like a scattergun than the consistent, confident bowler they needed. The fielders looked flat, and when the boundaries started flowing, it was also very clear that the energy fell away visibly.
This was not just a good partnership; it was a momentum killer. And if India ends up losing their hold on this match, they will lament this session as the turning point.
The Bigger Picture: England’s Next Gen Steps Up
Keep this in mind: England is massively bullish about batting moving forward. With Ben Stokes and Joe Root ending their careers positively, there’s a new crew ready to come through. And Brook and Smith? They are advancing their cause on multiple fronts.
It speaks volumes for England’s trust in youth and attacking cricket. The approach, which has previously been successful in white-ball cricket, is beginning to bear fruit in tests. And, as it does today, when it is working, it is entertaining.
The big question is, have we just witnessed the start of the next great batting partnership in England’s history, or will India roar back on Day 4?
Only time will tell. For now, let’s salute Brook and Smith for their determination, for the style, and the historical moment they conjured up in this match.
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