India in control of 2nd test despite England centuries by Brook and Smith on Day 3

BIRMINGHAM, England — India maintained a firm grip on the second test at Edgbaston on Friday, despite resilient centuries from England's Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on a tumultuous Day 3. The home side, reeling from earlier setbacks, found solace only in the individual brilliance of their middle-order batsmen, as India's disciplined attack ensured no widespread recovery, leaving the visitors comfortably in command heading into the weekend.

Harry Brook, continuing his impressive form, crafted a masterful 123, showcasing a blend of aggression and watchful defence against India's varied bowling attack. His partnership with Jamie Smith, who compiled a determined 105, provided England with their only significant resistance of the innings. The pair batted through a challenging period, frustrating the Indian bowlers for large stretches and offering a glimmer of hope to the English faithful. Their stand was a testament to their individual skill and temperament under pressure, yet their efforts largely remained isolated from a collective team resurgence. Once their formidable partnership was finally broken, the remaining English wickets fell with a familiar lack of cohesion, underscoring the team's broader batting struggles in the face of relentless Indian pressure.

India's bowlers, led by their persistent pace attack and wily spinners, consistently chipped away at the other end, preventing any sustained English partnerships from developing beyond the Brook-Smith alliance. Their ability to contain the scoring rate and pick up crucial wickets at regular intervals meant that despite the individual heroics, England never truly threatened to overturn India's commanding first-innings lead. The visitors' strategy of patience, precision, and relentless pressure paid dividends throughout the day, keeping them firmly in the driver's seat as the stumps were drawn.

With two days remaining, India will now look to consolidate their overwhelming advantage, potentially by enforcing the follow-on or setting a daunting target that will test England's mettle in the fourth innings. England, conversely, faces an uphill battle, needing a monumental effort from their tail-enders and a vastly improved bowling performance on Day 4 to even dream of salvaging a draw, let alone a victory. The narrative of this second test remains heavily skewed in India's favour, despite the flashes of brilliance from Brook and Smith that illuminated an otherwise challenging day for the host nation.