Harry Brook and Jamie Smith both hit hundreds to aid Team India rally from 84-5 in the first innings of the second Test match against England on Day 3. At Edgbaston, Birmingham, the pacers had gotten things off to a great start when Ben Stokes and Joe Root were killed early in the first session.
However, what followed was a tepid showing of bowling. Without their leader, Jasprit Bumrah, the Men in Blue found it difficult to create an impression, as captain Shubman Gill quickly changed the bowlers in an attempt to find a breakthrough. Jamie Smith was able to counterattack with ease thanks to favorable batting conditions and an older ball, which completely changed the tide of the match in the hosts’ favor.
Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep lost their spark after the first spell, and Prasidh Krishna’s problems in England persisted. Against Jamie Smith, the latter gave up 23 runs per over and kept giving up at an economic rate of about six runs each over.
As England persisted in their unrelenting assault, the spinners, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, were likewise unable to enter the game. They have given up 96 runs without taking a wicket in their 18 overs combined.
Fans were outraged when England was let off the hook due to India’s poor bowling. Check out a few of the responses right here:
India lost Edgbaston 2022 after having England 83/5, trailing India's 416…
These guys are adamant on bettering that..
Braindead bowling and equally bad from the captain #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/77GezNqtvq
— Rahul Kumar (@rahulk_1019) July 4, 2025Few Words for Morne Morkel ( India bowling coach ) & Prasidh Krishna#ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/BEhgNC6dPH
— Ajay Sharma (@Ajay_Sharma_04) July 4, 2025Gambhir's coaching and selection is exactly like how Dhoni used to operate in tests. Always defensive thinking. You're never going to win a test match if you don't 20 wickets and this India's bowling line up is one of the worst you can see. Why is Prasidh even in the team?
— Milez Das (@MILEZDAS) July 4, 2025“Stop bowling garbage as if you’re a gully level bowler,” one fan posted.
“Why are India bowling so negative with a near 300 lead?” another fan wrote.
“Indian bowling attack lacks the teeth to break partnerships,” one tweet read.
Team India bowlers struggle as Brook-Smith stand takes control on Day 3
England continues to coast in the second session, as the bowlers have yet to test the established partnership of Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. Gill even briefly threw the ball to Nitish Kumar Reddy to change things up, but he was unable to put the two players to the test outside of the opening ball.
England are well-placed at 329-5 in the 68th over, midway through the second session, behind by 258 runs.
