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England’s star wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith impressed one and all with his sublime batting display on Day 3 of the second Test against India. The right-hander lit up the Edgbaston stadium with his whirlwind strokeplay, playing a crucial role in England’s fightback on the third day.
The third day began on a sour note for England as Joe Root and Ben Stokes were dismissed in quick succession, both falling to a fiery spell from Mohammed Siraj. The Indian pacer struck twice in two deliveries, reducing England to 84 for 5 and placing them in a dire position during the morning session.
Jamie Smith and Harry Brook stage record-breaking partnership
From that point, Smith joined hands with Harry Brook to produce one of the most memorable counterattacks in recent Test history. The duo added 303 runs for the sixth wicket, aggressively taking on the Indian bowling attack and neutralising the early momentum gained by the visitors.
Brook eventually fell after a brilliant 158, and his dismissal triggered a lower-order collapse. England’s innings came to a swift end, folding for 407, but Smith stood firm till the end, finishing unbeaten on 184. Despite missing out on a double century, his contribution was invaluable. Although Smith didn’t reach the 200-run mark, he etched his name into the record books by registering the highest individual score by an England wicketkeeper in Test cricket. Let’s now take a look at the top 5 highest scores by an English wicketkeeper in Test history.
Top 5 highest scores by an English wicketkeeper in Tests
1) Jamie Smith – 184 vs India, 2025*
On a batting friendly Edgbaston pitch, Smith’s knock stood out for its maturity and dominance. Facing a world-class Indian bowling attack featuring Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, the 24-year-old counterattacked fearlessly. His unbeaten 184 is now the highest ever score by an England wicketkeeper in Test history, surpassing a record that stood for nearly three decades made by legendary Alec Stewart.
2) Alec Stewart – 173 vs New Zealand, 1997
The former England captain and one of the most technically sound wicketkeepers the country has produced, Stewart smashed 173 against New Zealand at Lord’s. Coming at a time when England had lost opener Nick Knight early, Stewart’s knock was a mix of elegance and grit. He batted for more than six hours and helped England dominate the Test match, setting the benchmark for keeper-batters. The contest was eventually drawn but Stewart grabbed the Player of the Match recognition.
3) Jonny Bairstow – 167 vs Sri Lanka, 2016*
Bairstow, one of England’s modern-day Test stalwarts, played a sensational knock of 167 not out against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Displaying his trademark aggression and precision, Bairstow rescued England from a middle-order collapse after they lost 4 for 84 and ensured a massive first-innings total. His innings was marked by fluent drives and smart rotation of strike, earning him praise for combining flair with resilience as England managed to reach 416 in their first innings. The match ended in a draw and Bairstow earned the Player of the Match award.
4) Alec Stewart – 164 vs South Africa, 1998
A year after his New Zealand heroics, Stewart produced another gem—164 against South Africa in Manchester. Known for stepping up during big occasions, Stewart’s innings came against a potent Proteas pace attack led by Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock. His ability to absorb pressure and anchor the innings solidified his reputation as one of England’s best-ever wicketkeeper-batters.
5) Jos Buttler – 152 vs Pakistan, 2020
Known for his explosive white-ball prowess, Buttler proved his red-ball mettle with a scintillating 152 against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl. His innings, filled with aggressive strokeplay and quick scoring, shifted the momentum in England’s favour. Buttler’s ability to play attacking shots without compromising on technique made this one of the most entertaining innings by an English wicketkeeper in recent years. Buttler was made Player of the Series after he finished with 267 runs.
