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England’s young wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith made history on Friday by hitting the fastest Test century against India by an English player. The 24-year-old reached his maiden Test hundred in just 80 balls, breaking the previous record held by Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal.
Smith achieved the milestone during the third day of the second Test at Edgbaston. Coming in at number seven, he took charge early in the first session and went on the attack, taking Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. He reached the landmark with a boundary off Ravindra Jadeja in the 47th over of England’s first innings.
With this century, Smith now holds the record for the fastest Test hundred against India by an Englishman and ranks fourth overall on the all-time list. Kamran Akmal, who had previously held the record, had scored a century in 81 balls against India in Lahore back in January 2006.
Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi still holds the record for the fastest Test century against India, having scored a 78-ball ton during the same 2006 series in Lahore.
Fastest Test centuries against India (by balls faced):
David Warner (Australia) – 69 balls, Perth (Jan 2012)
AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 75 balls, Centurion (Dec 2010)
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 78 balls, Lahore (Jan 2006)
Jamie Smith (England) – 80 balls, Birmingham (July 2025)
Kamran Akmal (Pakistan) – 81 balls, Lahore (Jan 2006)
Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 84 balls, Mumbai (2001)
Clive Lloyd (West Indies) – 85 balls, Bengaluru (1974)
Ben Duckett (England) – 88 balls, Rajkot (Feb 2024)
Smith’s innings also placed him among the top performers in English Test history. His 80-ball century is now the joint third-fastest Test century by an English batter.
Fastest Test centuries by English batters:
Gilbert Jessop – 76 balls vs Australia, The Oval (1902)
Jonny Bairstow – 77 balls vs New Zealand, Nottingham (2022)
Harry Brook – 80 balls vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi (2022)
Jamie Smith – 80 balls vs India, Birmingham (2025)
Ben Stokes – 85 balls vs New Zealand, Lord’s (2015)
Ian Botham – 86 balls vs Australia, Leeds (1981)
Ian Botham – 86 balls vs Australia, Manchester (1981)
With the help of his century, England posted 407 in their first innings but still trailed India’s total of 587. On Day 4, India are currently 411 for 5, leading by 591 runs.
England currently lead the five-match Test series 1-0.
