ENG vs IND, 2nd Test: Brook, Smith dazzle but Siraj has the final say on Day 3

They call it moving day for a reason - and at Edgbaston, Day 3 moved like a storm. Momentum swung, tempers flared, and the script rewrote itself by the hour. From collapse to counterattack and back again, it was Test cricket at its most intoxicating. By stumps, India stood tall—244 runs ahead, nine wickets intact, and the game in their grip. At the heart of it all was Mohammed Siraj - unrelenting, animated, and by the end of it, victorious.

The tone was set early - brutally early. The second new ball was barely eight deliveries old when Siraj struck gold. First, Joe Root feathered one down the leg side, undone by subtle seam and extra bounce. One ball later, the cauldron roared as Ben Stokes walked out, only to be ambushed by a spiteful lifter that leapt at him, brushed the glove, and landed safely in Pant's mitts. England, teetering at 84 for 5, had blinked in the morning light.

Ten balls. Two wickets. The storm had arrived - and Siraj was the eye of it.

Then came the defiance - unexpected, dazzling and deeply compelling.

From 84 for 5 to a position of dominance, England’s revival at Edgbaston was scripted by Jamie Smith and Harry Brook in thrilling fashion. Smith set the tone with a confident four off the hat-trick ball, and what followed was a counter-attack that floored India. A generous slip cordon didn’t help, as the duo cashed in on every scoring opportunity.

Brook settled in with fluent boundaries, bringing up his half-century with a neat drive for three. Smith, though, went into overdrive. He hammered Prasidh Krishna for four fours and a six in a 23-run over, surging to 49 off 38 balls by drinks. India’s short-ball strategy fell flat, as



Smith pulled with precision and purpose.

The second new ball did the trick. After a long, fruitless spell, Akash Deep finally found the perfect inswinger — one that nipped back sharply from outside off and crashed into Brook’s off-stump. The marathon stand was broken, and so was England’s resistance.

From 387 for 5, the hosts folded for 407, losing their last five wickets for just 20 runs in the space of 7.2 overs. Chris Woakes, who had joined Smith as England narrowly avoided the follow-on, lasted only a few overs. Going for an expansive drive, he edged to first slip, where Karun Nair took a smart low catch. Akash finished with a career-best 4 for 88 — a vital hand in ripping through the middle order.

Siraj returned for one final burst, and the tail offered little resistance. After a successful review for LBW against Brydon Carse - the ball jagging back and striking flush on the front pad - Siraj steamed through the rest. Tongue and Bashir followed quickly, as the pacer wrapped up a superb spell with 6 for 70 - his fourth five-wicket haul and first on English soil.

Smith, stranded on 184 not out, had already scripted history by becoming England’s highest-scoring Test wicketkeeper, eclipsing Alec Stewart. With partners running out, he briefly freed his arms — launching Akash for a six over long-on and a drive for four — but the counterattack fizzled just as quickly.

Fittingly, it was the same duo that did the early damage who returned to finish the job. Between them, Siraj and Akash Deep polished off the innings in ruthless fashion, handing India a commanding 180-run first-innings lead — a reward for relentless discipline and timely aggression.