England register unwanted record in second Test against India

BIRMINGHAM: England registered an embarrassing slice of Test history during the second Test against India at Edgbaston, becoming only the sixth team ever to have six batters dismissed for ducks in a single innings.

Despite the collapse, the hosts still managed a respectable 407 in 89.3 overs, thanks to a sensational counterattack from Jamie Smith (184* off 207) and Harry Brook (158 off 234).

The six batters who failed to score included Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, captain Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, marking England’s entry into a rare and infamous club that already includes Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and India.

Remarkably, England’s 407 is the highest-ever total posted by any team suffering six ducks in a single Test innings. Pakistan had previously held the record for most ducks in an innings, scoring just 128 against the West Indies in 1980.

Teams with six ducks in a Test innings:

• Pakistan – 128 vs West Indies (1980)
• South Africa – 105 vs India (1996)
• Bangladesh – 87 vs West Indies (2002)
• India – 152 vs England (2014)
• New Zealand – 90 vs Pakistan (2018)
• England – 407 vs India (2025)*

Smith’s innings made headlines beyond the team total as he smashed the fourth-fastest century ever recorded against India in Tests.

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His 80-ball ton broke Kamran Akmal’s 19-year-old record (81 balls vs India in 2006) and is now the fastest Test hundred against India by an English batter.

Fastest Test centuries vs India (by balls):

• David Warner – 69 balls (2012)
• AB de Villiers – 75 balls (2010)
• Shahid Afridi – 78 balls (2006)
• Jamie Smith – 80 balls (2025)*
• Kamran Akmal – 81 balls (2006)

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