England ended the third day of the second Test against India well behind – but with a glimmer of hope.
At one stage in the morning, they were 84 for five – not exactly on course to reach India’s score of 587.
But Jamie Smith and Harry Brook produced an impressive fightback – scoring 184 not out and 158 respectively – to claw back some dignity and leave India leading by 244 runs at the end of the day
It was a topsy-turvy day of action at Edgbaston, with two left to go, and Mail Sport’s David Lloyd – AKA Bumble – was there to take it all in.
So, how good was Smith? Who had a surprise celebrity encounter in a lift? And what do England need to worry about?
Without further ado, Mail Sport presents the latest edition of BUMBLE AT THE TEST.
Jamie Smith hit a sensational unbeaten 184 to help England out of a tricky position against India in the second Test
Harry Brook also hit 158 to help claw back some dignity and leave India leading by 244 runs at the end of the day
Root’s strange dismissal
It was uncanny to see Joe Root get dismissed with a tickle down the leg side. The ball from Mohammed Siraj was innocuous but it has a knack of getting wickets.
It took me back to Ian Botham, who’d claim that he’d bowl for the strangle down the leg side.
Beefy was the king of the strangle. He’d say, ‘the bat has two edges. It doesn’t matter if it’s inside or outside, it’s still out!’
England’s mental woes
Much of the talk on day two was that this is a lousy pitch. That went a bit quiet when England were 84 for five and in a bit of a pickle.
Mental fatigue played a part because the batters’ minds were scrambled after two days in the field. That’s a great part of Test cricket. The Aussies called it mental disintegration.
Apart from Brook and Smith, who played excellently, England were mentally spent.
It was uncanny to see Joe Root get dismissed with a tickle down the leg side on Friday
England were mentally spent on day three of the second Free IELTS writing test simulation, against India at Edgbaston
Jamie Smith’s brilliance
Smith’s century was brutal and so close to beating Gilbert Jessop’s record of 76 balls for the fastest English hundred in Test cricket.
The debate has raged after Simon Wilde wrote a book, concluding that Jessop scored his ton between 72 and 74 balls in 1902. Well that’s 73 then, Simon.
In any event, Smith came in on a hat-trick ball, smacked it for four, then carried on his merry way.
Paul Newman’s shock celebrity encounter
Our former colleague Paul Newman went back to his hotel the other night and was in the lift with some heavy metal rockers.
He asked them ‘Are you going to the Black Sabbath gig?’. To which they replied, ‘We’re the band, Metallica!’
It begs the question: Who is the most famous person in that hotel? Is it Jasprit Bumrah or James Hetfield?
Smith was brutal and so close to setting the fastest English hundred in Test cricket
Battle of the bands
Sticking with music, it’s the battle of the bands this week!
Oasis start their comeback tour in Cardiff and Birmingham’s finest, Black Sabbath, will play at Villa Park. That will be Ozzie Osborne’s last gig. He’s one of the greatest Rock’n Rollers I reckon. Go and get them Ozzie!
Anyway, I’d love to meet the Gallagher boys. We could have a real shindig around Manchester!
The runaway train
The runaway train. This game quickly went away from Shubman Gill. With 587 in the bank, I thought it was strange that the field was so defensive with only two slips.
Regardless of the counter from Brook and Smith, that was the time to keep the pressure on. With three slips in there, it would have at least made them think twice because a few chances went there.
This game quickly went away from Shubman Gill – it was strange the field was so defensive
A remarkable scorecard
What a topsy-turvy day of cricket, with quite a remarkable scorecard in the end. Six of the England team were out for ducks.
They were staring down the barrel, then came a magnificent counter attack and then from nowhere, the tail was blown away by Siraj, with Smith left high and dry on 184. Surely somebody could have stayed with him.
England CricketJoe RootIndia Cricket