Was the batting of Harry Brook and Jamie Smith truly unmatched?

New Delhi, July 5 (NationPress) Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott praised the remarkable performances of Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184 not out), who formed a formidable 303-run partnership that propelled the team from a precarious 84/5 to a total of 407 in the first innings of the second Test against India at Edgbaston.

The duo rescued England from a challenging position after the early dismissals of Joe Root (22) and captain Ben Stokes (0) on consecutive deliveries on day three. Despite a late push from Indian pacers Akash Deep (4-88) and Mohammed Siraj (6-70), who made significant inroads, the visitors secured a 180-run first innings lead, which increased to 244 runs at stumps on Friday.

"One thing I can guarantee is that everyone who witnessed Day 3 of this Test will leave thoroughly satisfied. The quality of cricket was exceptional. The batting from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith was unparalleled. While we can discuss some questionable captaincy and bowling lengths, the credit goes to the English batsmen. Furthermore, India’s response indicates they had a clear strategy in the dressing room about being assertive and ensuring they amassed enough runs to bowl England out," Trott shared on JioHotstar.

Reflecting on Siraj’s impressive six-wicket haul, former Indian pacer Varun Aaron commended the pacer's execution, highlighting his remarkable performances in Jasprit Bumrah's absence.

"The contrast in Siraj’s performance when Bumrah isn’t on the field is stark - it illustrates his capability to lead. Much like Shubman Gill with the bat, he enjoys taking command of the bowling attack. I would say he had a bit of luck early on today - luck built from his consistent efforts in the previous match. He adhered to his strengths - setting batters up with the away delivery and then utilizing that sharp in-dipper, which has become one of his strongest assets. This marks Siraj’s best bowling display in England: 6 for 70. Exceptional execution," he added.

On the Brook-Smith partnership, Varun mentioned that the pair capitalized on their strengths and maximized the runs for England, especially considering six batters were dismissed for ducks during the innings.

"They urgently needed a substantial partnership - and Harry Brook and Jamie Smith came through. However, let’s not overlook the six ducks in that innings - six! That’s a considerable number. This partnership constituted the majority of England’s runs. Outstanding batting under pressure - they faced adversity and fought back. Yes, some of the short-pitched deliveries played into their strengths, but this was still among the finest partnerships I've witnessed in Test cricket. Regrettably, the remaining lineup didn't perform. Without those six ducks, we might have experienced a much closer contest, but as it stands, India is significantly ahead," the former Indian cricketer concluded.