Jamie Smith scored 40 off 52 balls and lost his wicket to Prasidh Krishna.
India took an important wicket soon after the lunch break on Day 3 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Jamie Smith was out for 40 runs thanks to clever fielding near the boundary.
Prasidh Krishna came in to bowl with a clear plan—using short balls and placing fielders near the boundary. He bowled a short delivery outside off-stump, which Smith tried to pull. However, he mistimed the shot, and the ball flew toward deep square leg, where Ravindra Jadeja was waiting.
Jadeja caught the ball nicely but noticed he was very close to the boundary and might step over it. Thinking quickly, he passed the ball to Sai Sudharsan, who had run in to help. Sudharsan finished the catch successfully, and Jamie Smith was out just three balls before the new ball became available. India’s plan to use short-pitched deliveries worked well and gave them an important breakthrough.
India scored a big total of 471 runs in their first innings. This was made possible by brilliant centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 off 159 balls), Shubman Gill (147 off 227 balls), and Rishabh Pant (134 off 178 balls). However, on the morning of the second day, England made a strong comeback. Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue each took four wickets, helping to slow down India’s scoring and stop them from going even further.
England didn’t start well in their innings as Zak Crawley got out early to Jasprit Bumrah. But Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope settled things with a strong 122-run partnership for the second wicket. Bumrah got rid of Duckett after he scored 62, while Pope went on to make a brilliant 106. Just before lunch on Day 3, Harry Brook continued his good form by hitting his 12th Test fifty, achieving the mark in just 26 innings.
FAQ
What happened in the Jadeja and Sudharsan relay catch?
Ravindra Jadeja and Sai Sudharsan worked together to complete a brilliant relay catch near the boundary to dismiss Jamie Smith.
What is a relay catch in cricket?
A relay catch is when one fielder catches the ball near the boundary and throws or taps it to another fielder inside the field to complete the catch legally.
Who is Jamie Smith?
Jamie Smith is a professional cricketer, likely the batter dismissed in this particular match.
Why is this catch being praised?
It was an athletic and perfectly timed team effort that required quick thinking, great coordination, and sharp fielding skills.
Have Jadeja or Sudharsan pulled off similar catches before?
Jadeja is known for his world-class fielding and has completed many spectacular catches. Sudharsan is also building a reputation as a sharp fielder.
Was this catch important in the match?
Relay catches often turn games around, especially if they dismiss key batters like Jamie Smith. It likely had a big impact.
