England pulled off a stunning recovery, finishing their first innings on 407, erasing memories of a shaky 84/5, and successfully evading the follow‑on after India’s daunting total of 587 at Edgbaston.

⏳ England Slump to 84/5, Then Rally Back

Ben Stokes and Joe Root departed cheaply to Mohammed Siraj in successive balls, leaving England wobbling at 84/5  .


Just as the match appeared nearly lost, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook produced a counter-punch for the ages.

🔥 Smith & Brook’s Reprisal: A Record-Breaking Partnership

Jamie Smith demolished his way to a blistering century—184 off just 207 balls, marking the fastest Test century by an English keeper and fastest at Edgbaston  .

Harry Brook matched the impetus, bludgeoning his way to 158, contributing to a mammoth 303-run partnership that completely turned the tide  .


Their heroics evoked the hard‑charging Bazball style, shifting momentum emphatically in England’s favor.

Despite losing six wickets after the big partnership, England’s resurgent middle and lower order pushed the total to 407, leaving them 180 runs behind India—but crucially, safe from the follow-on.

⚖️ Match Status & What Lies Ahead

India began their second innings, already reaching 64/1 early on, with KL Rahul and Karun Nair looking composed  . The game is beautifully poised:

India hold a lead of 244 runs with 9 wickets in hand.

England avoided a massive strategic blow by escaping the follow-on trough.

With time on the clock and a pitch showing signs of fatigue, both teams have opportunities to influence the match’s outcome.

What started as a dominant Indian innings has transformed into an enthralling contest, thanks to England’s dogged fightback. With momentum swinging, Edgbaston’s Test remains tantalizingly alive for a classic finish.