“Certainly a challenge there” - Jamie Smith on facing Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Test series

England are preparing to face India in a five-match Test series at home, starting on 20 June 2025. They recently won a three-match ODI series at home 3-0 against West Indies and will now be in action in a three-match T20I series against the same opponent. 

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But in the ODI series, one of their standout performers was their wicketkeeper-batter, Jamie Smith. In the final ODI, he smashed a 25-ball fifty, which was also his maiden ODI fifty. The young wicketkeeper eventually finished the series with 101 runs at a strike rate of 180.35.

However, his focus has now shifted to the upcoming Test series against India, and he opened up on facing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah.

As quoted from ESPNcricinfo, Smith said: "There's an opportunity there to go and play, and experience opening when the ball is still swinging and nipping around against quality bowlers. It's definitely great practice [for the India series]. It feels like we're close to it now, we're almost there. It's been great playing these three games, and obviously, the Zimbabwe Test led up to it."

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Talking about the preparation, he added: "I feel good. Hopefully, the next 10 days or so can go well, prep-wise, and we can head into [the] India [series] quite fresh, which is amazing."

Bumrah is going to be the spearhead for India in this upcoming series. He is not only their leader in the bowling attack but also, now with the departure of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, one of their most experienced players. Hence, Bumrah will be expected to lead from the front. 

And for someone like Smith, who is yet to face him in any format of the game, it will be a daunting task. But he came up with a witty reply regarding this, saying: "Hopefully, down at No. 7, I can watch other lads go and face him first. [He is] certainly a challenge there."

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As of now, Smith has played 10 Test matches, scoring 641 runs in 16 innings at an average of 42.73, including four fifties and one century. Among these 16 innings, he has played 11 innings in England, where he averages 49.10, including three fifties and that one century.

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