The ongoing second Test between England and India saw an exciting third day of play on Friday, July 4, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With a significant lead of 244 runs at the end of their second innings, the visitors finished the day at 64/1 from 13 overs.
India took a 180-run lead in the first innings earlier in the day after bowling England out for 407. On 77/3, the hosts had resumed the day. At one point, they were in trouble at 84/5 after losing a few early wickets. But Harry Brook and Jamie Smith’s outstanding 300+ partnership appeared to have put them back in the running.
During their long partnership, both hitters scored more than 150 runs. Brook’s dismissal gave Akash Deep the much-needed breakthrough. Then, when England fell from 387/6 to 407 all out, India quickly recovered to take out the remaining wickets.
Mohammed Siraj, who took six wickets, spearheaded the attack. With four wickets, Akash Deep provided him with good support. India is confident and has a significant lead going into the fourth day of the Test.
In light of this, the following five records and milestones were reached by the two teams on the third day of the second Test.
1. Lowest all-out total by a team in Tests with a 300-plus partnership in the same innings
England has now set the lowest total by a team in a Test match including a partnership of 300 or more in the same innings, which was an undesired record. Together, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook put together a 303-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
England were eventually bowled out for 407 runs. Interestingly, after two batters scored more than 150 runs apiece in the same inning, their total of 407 is the lowest by a team in the format. Smith scored an undefeated 184 runs, while Brook scored 158.
2. Most ducks for England in a Test innings
England’s first innings, in which they were bowled out for 407 runs, saw six batters dismissed for ducks. Notably, in a Test innings, this is England’s highest number of ducks. In the past, they had five ducks in each of their four innings.
Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett, and Ben Stokes were all sent out without causing any problems for the scorekeepers. Additionally, England tied the record of six ducks in a single Test innings. The other teams with six ducks in a single Test innings are Bangladesh (three), South Africa, Pakistan, India (twice), and New Zealand.
3. Highest Test score for an England wicket-keeper
In his unbeaten 184 runs sensational knock, Jamie Smith in the process of breaking the world Test score record of an England wicket-keeper. He passed Alec Stewart who had been harboring the record up until then when he had made the 173 against New Zealand in 1997.
The other England batsmen on this list are Jonny Bairstow (167* against Sri Lanka 2016), Alec Stewart once more (164 against South Africa 1998), Jos Buttler (152 against Pakistan 2020), and Bairstow again (150* against South Africa 2016). England Jamie Smith with 184 not out holds the record (7th or below) although the record may be higher since the number seven batsman and below is credited with runs in which he is not out.
4. Joint fastest Indian to 2000 Test runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved the milestone of scoring 2000 Test runs for India in the second innings. He is the second-fastest Indian player to accomplish the accomplishment, having done it in just 40 innings.
Jaiswal was on an exclusive league together with Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, who are only two men to reach 2000 runs in Tests in only 40 innings. Further the left-handed opener also become the second youngest Indian to reach this landmark at an age of 23 years and 188 days. He only follows master blaster and has already performed the act as early as 20 years and 330 days, the age achieved by Sachin Tendulkar earlier.
5. Second Indian with 6-fer in Tests at Edgbaston (in an innings)
Mohammed Siraj became just the second Indian bowler to take six wickets in Test matches at Edgbaston after taking six in England’s opening innings. He accompanied Chetan Sharma, who had taken six wickets at the location in 1986.
Mohammed Siraj came back with statistics of 6/70 off 19.3 overs. He is the second-best Indian bowler in Tests at Edgbaston, and his figures are as well. He surpassed Ishant Sharma, who was the former second-best with the bowling figures of 5/51 in 2018. Chetan Sharma is in the lead with figures of 6/58 followed by Siraj.
