IND Vs ENG, 3rd Test: Jamie Smith Equals Quinton de Kock's Record For Fastest 1000 Runs By A Wicketkeeper

England’s Jamie Smith etched his name into the record books on Day 2 of the third Test against India at Lord’s, equalling the world record for the fastest 1000 runs in Test cricket by a wicketkeeper-batter. The 24-year-old, who has rapidly emerged as England’s premier gloveman in the longest format, reached the milestone in just 21 innings—matching the feat previously held solely by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.

Needing just three runs to hit the landmark, Smith got there in style with a boundary off the first ball of the 87th over, bowled by India’s Mohammed Siraj. This Lord’s Test is only Smith’s 13th for England, underscoring the speed and consistency with which he’s made his mark at the international level.

Joint-fastest 1000 Test Runs As Wicketkeeper

Smith has also broken new ground in terms of the pace of scoring, becoming the quickest wicketkeeper to 1000 Test runs in terms of balls faced. His 1303 deliveries to the milestone surpass the previous record of 1311 balls set by Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Renowned for his fluent strokeplay and natural scoring ability, Smith is quickly establishing himself as a standout performer in the modern game.

Prior to Smith, the record for the fastest 1000 Test runs by an English wicketkeeper was held by Jonny Bairstow, who achieved the feat in 22 innings. Smith’s swift rise through the ranks, culminating in this achievement, now places him in elite company with the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, and Adam Gilchrist.

Smith’s current form has been nothing short of extraordinary. He struck an unbeaten 184 in the second Test at Edgbaston—setting a new record for the highest individual score by an English wicketkeeper in Test history, surpassing Alec Stewart’s 173.

He followed that up with an assured 88 in the second innings, and earlier, scores of 40 and 44* in the first Test at Headingley.

How Good Is Rishabh Pant?

Pant, who came into this series with questions hanging over him after a below-par IPL, has turned things around in spectacular fashion. Already amassing 325 runs in four innings so far, Pant’s counter-attacking brilliance has been central to India’s dominance.

In fact, in the first Test at Headingley, he notched up centuries in both innings, and at Edgbaston, he added a swift fifty to his growing tally, once again demonstrating his ability to change the game’s momentum.

Pant’s tally of 2010 Test runs in SENA nations has now put him ahead of MS Dhoni (1731), with only legends like Adam Gilchrist, Jeff Dujon, and John Waite trailing him on this unique list. He also became just the 10th Indian batter overall to cross 2000 runs in these conditions.

If that wasn’t enough, Pant smashed another record for the most sixes by an overseas batter in a single away country, overtaking Ben Stokes’ 21 sixes in South Africa. Pant now sits atop the list with 23 sixes in England, a testament to his fearless stroke play.

Day 1 of the third Test of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy at Lord’s brought mixed fortunes for India, as vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a finger injury while fielding during England’s first innings.

The incident occurred in the 34th over when Pant dived down the leg side to stop a wayward delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. While he managed to half-stop the ball and prevent a boundary, it struck him flush on the fingertips of his left hand.

Pant was in visible pain and received on-field treatment for several minutes. Though he continued briefly, his discomfort was clear, and he eventually walked off the field during the next over. His departure brought Dhruv Jurel into the spotlight.