Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad believes India still holds the upper hand in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, even after a spirited fightback from Jamie Smith and Harry Brook at Edgbaston. Despite England’s sixth-wicket stand of 165 runs, Broad insists the visitors remain in firm control of the game.

After Mohammed Siraj’s fiery burst removed Joe Root and Ben Stokes in successive deliveries early on Day 3, India seemed to be cruising. England were reeling at 84/5 when Jamie Smith walked in under immense pressure, facing a potential hat-trick ball. What followed, however, was a sensational counterattack that flipped the tone of the session.

Smith played with flair and fearlessness, smashing an 80-ball century—his second in Test cricket—while Harry Brook, composed and calculated, remained unbeaten on 91. Together, they lifted England to 249/5 in just 47 overs by lunch.

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“A brilliant start to the day for India with those two early wickets,” said Stuart Broad on Sky Sports. “But the way Smith and Brook batted after that was exceptional. Smith came in when England had just a one percent win probability. To go from that to a century shows incredible character.”

Despite the comeback, Broad reiterated India’s dominance. “This session belonged to England, no doubt. But make no mistake, India are still in control. They’ve got a massive total on the board and have the bowling firepower to strike back.” He added that the lunch break arrived at a perfect time for India to regroup. “The body language from India at lunch showed fatigue. A break will help them reset and come back with a clearer plan.”

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Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik offered insight into Smith’s approach. “He’s a natural stroke-maker. Smith uses his feet beautifully and plays instinctively—very old-school. He’s hard to contain because he capitalizes on anything even slightly off length.” Broad also praised Brook’s understated brilliance: “I focused on Smith, but Brook quietly played a terrific innings. He’s a classy batter—elegant, calm, and decisive.”

As things stand, India remains ahead, but England’s sixth-wicket duo has brought the contest alive. The next session promises to be a critical battle in this compelling Test.