India made a much-needed breakthrough at Edgbaston when bowler Akash Deep bowled a peach to dismiss Harry Brook, shattering a massive 303-run sixth-wicket partnership with Jamie Smith that had swung the Test match England’s way.
England were struggling at 84 for 5 early on Day 3, trailing India’s mammoth first-innings score by more than 500 runs. Mohammed Siraj started with a double-strike, dismissing Joe Root and Ben Stokes off successive deliveries. Following the early dismissals, Smith and Brook served as crisis managers.
Smith walked in facing a hat-trick ball and went on to score a century off only 80 balls, the joint-third fastest by an Englishman in Test cricket. Brook, meanwhile, scored his ninth Test century, and his first against India. Together, they scored 303 runs off 364 deliveries, England’s best sixth-wicket partnership against India and the third-most against the Men in Blue.
However, skipper Shubman Gill gave Akash Deep the second new ball, and he finally made the much-needed breakthrough.
In the 83rd over, the pacer produced a length delivery that pitched outside off and returned inside. Brook, who had been cramping up a few overs before, attempted to push the ball, but it flew past his inside edge and smacked the off stump.
Watch the video below:
An absolute jaffa! 🙌#AkashDeep gets the much-needed breakthrough for #TeamIndia with a peach of a delivery! 🏏⚡#ENGvIND 👉 2nd TEST, Day 3 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/zKFoXmGVoj pic.twitter.com/Tkvn2Dd2rd
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 4, 2025
Brook departed for a solid 158 off 234 balls, laced with 17 boundaries and a six, a knock he dedicated to his late grandmother, Pauline. The dismissal was a major relief for India, who had a wicketless middle session as England went to 355 for 5 at Tea. However, the visitors will be looking to dismiss Smith, who is batting on 173 along with all-rounder Chris Woakes. At the time of writing, England’s score read 395/6, trailing by 192 runs.
