Jamie Smith Breaks Kapil Dev’s Record Of Fastest Century In India-England Tests
Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith entered the record books on Friday (July 4) by smashing the fastest-ever Test century in an India vs England Test match, reaching his maiden Test ton in just 80 balls at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Coming in at No. 7 during a top-order collapse, Smith launched a stunning counterattack, especially targeting Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja, off whom he completed the milestone with a boundary.
New Record: Fastest Test Century in IND-ENG Tests
Smith’s 100 off 80 balls broke two long-standing records:
- Surpassing Kapil Dev’s 86-ball century against England in 1982 (Kanpur).
- Beating Ben Duckett’s 88-ball ton in Rajkot (2024), previously the fastest by an Englishman in IND-ENG Tests.
Fastest Centuries in IND-ENG Test History:
| Player | Balls | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Smith (ENG) | 80 | Birmingham | July 2025* |
| Kapil Dev (IND) | 86 | Kanpur | 1982 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 88 | Lord’s | 1990 |
| Ben Duckett (ENG) | 88 | Rajkot | 2024 |
| Rishabh Pant (IND) | 89 | Birmingham | 2022 |
Fastest Test Centuries against India:
| Player | Balls | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | 69 | Australia | Perth | 2012 |
| AB de Villiers | 75 | South Africa | Centurion | 2010 |
| Shahid Afridi | 78 | Pakistan | Lahore | 2006 |
| Jamie Smith | 80 | England | Birmingham | 2025* |
| Kamran Akmal | 81 | Pakistan | Lahore | 2006 |
Fastest Centuries for England in Test Cricket:
| Player | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Jessop | 76 | Australia | 1902 |
| Jonny Bairstow | 77 | New Zealand | 2022 |
| Jamie Smith | 80 | India | 2025* |
| Harry Brook | 80 | Pakistan | 2022 |
| Ben Stokes | 85 | New Zealand | 2015 |
At Lunch, Day 3 – England’s Comeback:
- Jamie Smith: 103* off 82 balls
- Harry Brook: 91* off 127 balls
- Partnership: 165* (6th wicket)
- England Score: 249/5
From a precarious 84/5, this remarkable sixth-wicket partnership helped England claw back into the Test, putting pressure on India’s bowling unit.
With this knock, Jamie Smith not only changed the momentum of the Test but also etched his name among the fastest scorers in Test history. The 23-year-old’s fearless innings could prove decisive in the outcome of the Edgbaston clash.
