On what was primarily a new-ball surface, India’s bowlers were put to the sword by a spectacular counter-attacking sixth-wicket alliance between Harry Brook and the exceptional Jamie Smith. But once the second new cherry was available at the end of 80 overs, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj (six for 70) joined hands to orchestrate a collapse of the sort the Indians had courted in the first Test, giving their side a commanding 180-run lead at Edgbaston on Friday. At stumps, India were 64-1 in the second innings.

England’s innings wore a funny old look. Their final tally of 407 included two efforts of more than 150 from Brook and Smith, but also six ducks, including four on the third day of the second Test. The last three – Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir – all failed to tickle the scorers as the last five wickets fell for the addition of just 20 runs.

India began and ended their bowling stint with a flurry of wickets, but the middle phase was a chastening experience, especially for Prasidh Krishna, who was taken to the cleaners by Smith in particular. Prasidh wasn’t the only one to suffer at the England stumper’s hands; during his career-best unbeaten 184 studded with strokes that matched Shubman Gill’s for impact and elegance, Smith was unforgiving on pace and spin alike. Brook, himself an attacking batter, kept his instincts in check but paled only in comparison with Smith’s incandescence. Even India’s bowlers, at the receiving end as they were, would have admired the complete lack of nerves after the sixth-wicket duo came together just 11 minutes into day three following Siraj’s twin strikes in the day’s second over.