Jamie Smith's Century Sparks England's Fightback, Silencing Indian Fans in Edgbaston Test Thriller

England's Jamie Smith plays a shot on day three of the second Test. (AP Photo)

Jamie Smith's electrifying performance at Edgbaston not only propelled England forward in the second Test against India but also ignited the Barmy Army, drowning out the voices of the Bharat Army. The atmosphere was electric as Smith's aggressive batting display captivated the home crowd and put India on the back foot.

Before the series began, England's managing director, Rob Key, highlighted the potential showdown between Smith and his Indian counterpart, Rishabh Pant, framing it as "the battle of two entertaining counter-attacking wicketkeepers." On Friday, Smith emphatically answered the call.

The Eric Hollies stand, renowned for housing the boisterous Barmy Army, was a cauldron of noise as Smith dismantled the Indian bowling attack. This section of the ground is famously remembered for Eric Hollies dismissing Don Bradman for a duck in his final innings, denying him a Test average of 100. Now, the stand roared again as Smith threatened to spoil India's ambitions.

The Bharat Army, the vocal Indian supporters, were initially ready to unleash their anthems, but Smith's onslaught left them stunned. Rakesh Patel, a founding member of the Bharat Army, could only watch as the Barmy Army celebrated wildly.

During the lunch break, conversations between the two sets of fans took on a different tone. The ferocity of Smith's innings seemed to deflate the Indian fans, with some even suggesting they would be content with a draw, still haunted by memories of Headingley. England, still trailing by 300 runs, found new life as Smith took control.

When Smith swept Ravindra Jadeja to mid-wicket to reach his century – a century described as one of the most entertaining and crucial in recent English cricket history – the Barmy Army erupted. Their chants reached deafening levels in the Eric Hollies Stand.

While they may not yet have a dedicated song for Smith, unlike established stars such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Harry Brook, they were quick to improvise, chanting "You are not singing now!" towards the Bharat Army section.

As the lunch break arrived, Patel conceded that the atmosphere could become more intense later in the day, but emphasized the strong values shared by both sets of fans, ensuring that no one would cross the line.

Later, following the impressive 303-run partnership for the sixth wicket, the Barmy Army shifted their focus, chanting "Harry, Harry Brooook" in support of another of their heroes.