IND vs ENG, 2nd Test: Harry Brook, Jamie Smith record second-highest 6th-wicket partnership for England in Tests
Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on Friday added 303 runs and registered the second-highest sixth-wicket partnership for England in Tests during the third day of the second Test against India in Birmingham.
Andrew Flintoff and Graham Thorpe held the previous record, when they added 281 runs against New Zealand in 2002 in Christchurch.
The highest sixth-wicket stand for England belongs to Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, who put together 399 runs against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016. This is also the best sixth-wicket stand in Test history.
Brook and Smith came together when England was staring down the barrel at 84 for five, in response to India’s 587 runs. The pair took a counter-offensive approach, which included a 23-run over against Prasidh Krishna, to avoid the follow-on and also brought up centuries.
Smith got to the three-figure mark in 80 deliveries, making it the joint third-fastest by an England batter.
The stand was brought to an end when Akash Deep castled Brook on 158 in the 82nd over, making use of the second new ball.
Highest 6th-wicket partnerships for England
- 1. Ben Stokes & Jonny Bairstow – 399 runs vs South Africa (Cape Town, 2016)
- 2. Harry Brook & Jamie Smith – 303 runs vs India (Birmingham, 2025)
- 3. Andrew Flintoff & Graham Thorpe – 281 runs vs New Zealand (Christchurch, 2002)
- 4. Barry Knight & Peter Parfitt – 240 runs vs New Zealand (Auckland, 1963)
- 5. Ian Botham & Derek Randall – 232 runs vs New Zealand (Wellingston, 1984)
