Harry Brook and J Smith’s brilliant partnership rescues England against India – Match Report
In today’s match, Harry Brook and J Smith produced a superb batting display to rescue England from a tough situation against India. The Indian bowlers started extremely well and dismissed three of England’s key batters cheaply. At that stage, it looked like England might be bowled out for under 200, but the excellent partnership between Brook and Smith completely changed the momentum of the match.
In the first session, India bowled with great discipline. Mohammed Siraj and Akashdeep maintained excellent line and length with the new ball. Zak Crawley fell early, caught in the slips, and Ollie Pope was clean bowled by a superb delivery from Jadeja. The score was reduced to just 83/5, giving India a clear advantage.
At this critical moment, Harry Brook came to the crease. He began cautiously, adopting a defensive approach before gradually expanding his range of shots. His temperament was outstanding—he respected Siraj’s swing and dealt well with Akashdeep bouncers. J Smith provided solid support at the other end, focusing on strike rotation. Together they stabilised the innings after the first session and even attacked the Indian spinners.
After lunch, batting conditions improved. Brook used reverse sweeps, conventional sweeps, and elegant straight drives to trouble Jadeja and Sundar. He completed his fifty in 96 balls. Smith, too, showed great patience, tiring out the Indian bowlers with solid defence. His focus on singles and doubles spread the field, opening up opportunities for boundaries.
India changed more field placements to break the partnership, but the partnership held firm. Akashdeep, in his second spell, attempted yorkers, but Brook negotiated them confidently. Smith looked equally assured, displaying disciplined shot selection. Their partnership grew to around 120 runs, and during this period India remained wicketless.
After tea, the pitch slowed down further. India’s fielding also slipped a little, with one dropped catch proving costly. Brook was approaching a century but fell LBW to a sharp inswinger. By then, however, England had already reached a strong position. Smith, with his own knock of 150, carried the team beyond 300.
When England was in crisis, the maturity and skill of Brook and Smith wrested the initiative away from India. Now India will need the second new ball and much better planning on the next day, or else England could take a commanding lead.
Joe Root and Ben Stokes Fail as Siraj’s Six-for and Akashdeep’s Four Wickets Demolish England – Full Match Report
India’s pace attack put on a sensational display today to completely dismantle England’s batting lineup, with Mohammed Siraj claiming a career-best six-wicket haul and Akashdeep taking four important wickets. On a pitch offering movement and bounce early on, England’s star batters Joe Root and Ben Stokes failed to deliver when their team needed them the most, leaving the hosts in deep trouble.
The new-ball pair of Siraj and Akashdeep found swing in the air and seam movement off the pitch. Zak Crawley tried to counterattack but nicked behind early, giving India the perfect breakthrough. Ollie Pope, too, couldn’t settle and fell to a sharp delivery. At 40/2, England was under pressure, but the big blow came when Joe Root, their most reliable batter, was dismissed cheaply.
Root looked tentative right from the start, beaten multiple times outside off stump. Soon after, Ben Stokes tried to stabilize things but fell in similar fashion, undone by Akashdeep’s clever change of length and subtle movement.
By the time the first session ended, England were tottering at 83/5. The Indian fielders were charged up, and the energy on the field reflected their confidence. Every wicket was celebrated with intensity, showing how much the bowlers had planned for the England middle order. Siraj, in particular, bowled with fiery rhythm, mixing inswingers, outswingers, and bouncers with precision.
Akashdeep provided perfect support at the other end. He exploited the seam movement cleverly, sticking to a tight line and forcing errors from the batters. His spell was especially effective against England’s lower middle order, who tried to counterattack but fell to his well-directed deliveries. Akashdeep’s control ensured India never lost the pressure even when the ball got older.
After lunch, England tried to attack, but Siraj returned with a fresh burst to clean up the tail. He produced two unplayable deliveries to remove the last recognized batters, ending with sensational figures of 6 for 45. Akashdeep finished with an equally impressive 4 for 52, highlighting his value as a rising star in India’s pace attack.
The failures of senior players like Root and Stokes proved costly, exposing the inexperience of the lower order. The partnership that England desperately needed never materialised because of the relentless pressure applied by Siraj and Akashdeep.
Siraj led from the front with raw pace, aggression, and movement, while Akashdeep supported with discipline and subtle variations. Their combined effort not only crushed England’s batting but also put India in a commanding position in the match.
As the game moves forward, England will need to respond with better application in their second innings if they want to avoid defeat. But for now, the day belongs completely to India’s pace attack—and especially to Mohammed Siraj, whose six-wicket haul will be remembered as one of his finest spells in Test cricket.
