ENG vs SL 2024: Jamie Smith becomes youngest England wicketkeeper to score Test ton

Jamie Smith scored a sparkling century, his first in international cricket, to give England a mammoth 122-run lead on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka, at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Friday, August 23. With that, Smith became the youngest England wicketkeeper-batter to score a Test century. He broke the record held by Les Ames, who was 24 years and 63 days old when he hit a Test hundred for England, against the West Indies in Port of Spain in 1930.

The 24-year-old also became the first England batter to reach the three-figure mark in Test cricket in 18 months. He got to his century off just 136 balls in what is his only his fifth innings. Smith came out to bat at No. 6 when England were in a precarious position at 125/4. He played some orthodox cricket shots and also emphasised on running hard between the sticks.

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Smith finished Day 2 on 72 off 97 deliveries and resumed on Day 3 from where he had left. He got to his landmark with a push through mid-wicket as he ran a double. Eventually, he had to make the long walk back to the pavilion for a magnificent 148-ball 111 after edging behind to his counterpart Dinesh Chandimal off Prabath Jaysuriya's bowling. However, he had already given the Three Lions a lead of 79 by then. Smith's knock was studded with eight fours and a solitary six.

The Epsom-born earned rich praise from legends like Kumar Sangakkara and Nasser Hussain. "He has taken to Test cricket like duck to water," the former England captain said on commentary.

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After Smith's dismissal, Mark Wood swung his bat around and scored a swashbuckling 22 off 13 balls as the hosts were eventually bowled out for 358. Asitha Fernando and Jayasuriya bagged four and three wickets, respectively for the tourists.