Day 3 of the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with momentum swinging wildly between the two sides. Mohammed Siraj's impressive six-wicket haul ultimately helped India stay ahead, but not before England mounted a fierce counter-attack led by Jamie Smith and Harry Brook.
England resumed the day at 77 for 3, in response to India's massive first innings total of 587. Siraj struck quickly, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes in consecutive deliveries to leave England reeling at 84 for 5. Root was caught down the leg side for 22, while Stokes was undone by a rising delivery.
However, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith then launched a stunning counter-attack, forging a 303-run partnership. Smith, in particular, was aggressive, reaching his century off just 80 balls. Brook also played a crucial role, mixing caution with aggression to reach his ninth Test century. Smith remained unbeaten on 184, breaking Alec Stewart's record for the highest score by an England wicketkeeper.
The momentum shifted again when India took the second new ball. Akash Deep bowled Brook with a sharp delivery, and England's lower order collapsed under the pressure. Siraj then wrapped up the tail, finishing with 6 for 70 as England were all out for 407. Six English batters recorded ducks in the innings.
India began their second innings under overcast skies and lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for 28. KL Rahul (28) and Karun Nair (7) saw India to the close of play, with India finishing the day at 64 for 1, leading by 244 runs.
Siraj's performance was particularly impressive, especially in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He bowled with probing lengths and kept the England batters guessing. Akash Deep also played a key role, taking 4 wickets and dismissing the dangerous Harry Brook.
At the end of Day 3, India held a significant advantage. They will be aiming to bat for a substantial portion of Day 4 to set England a challenging target. The pitch is showing signs of uneven bounce, which could make life difficult for the England batsmen in the fourth innings.
