Smith's Century Roars Barmy Army, Silences Bharat Army as England Battles India in Edgbaston Test

England's Jamie Smith plays a shot on day three of the second Test. (AP Photo)

Jamie Smith's electrifying performance at Edgbaston has not only invigorated the Barmy Army, England's devoted fan base, but also injected fresh energy into the ongoing Test match against India. His aggressive batting display served as a counterpoint to the Bharat Army, the vocal Indian supporters, creating an intense atmosphere at the ground.

Just days before the series commenced, England's managing director, Rob Key, highlighted the potential showdown between Smith and his Indian counterpart, Rishabh Pant, framing it as "the battle of two entertaining counter-attacking wicketkeepers." Smith's recent performance has undoubtedly lived up to that billing.

The Eric Hollies Stand, renowned for housing the Barmy Army, erupted in celebration as Smith took apart the Indian bowling attack. This stand holds historical significance, famously being the spot where Don Bradman was dismissed for a duck in his final innings. Now, it witnessed Smith's heroics silencing the Indian supporters.

The Barmy Army's chants grew louder with each boundary, a stark contrast to the subdued Bharat Army, who had arrived ready to support their team. Rakesh Patel, a founding member of the Bharat Army, watched as Smith's onslaught unfolded.

Conversations among the fans took on a different tone as Smith continued to dominate. The Headingley Test was still fresh in the minds of some Indian fans, with some even admitting they would be happy with a draw at this point.

When Smith swept Ravindra Jadeja for a boundary to reach his century – a crucial and entertaining innings in recent English cricket history – the Barmy Army exploded. The noise levels in the Eric Hollies Stand reached a fever pitch.

While they may not yet have a dedicated song for Smith, as they do for established stars like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Harry Brook, his performance provided ample opportunity for improvisation. The Barmy Army turned towards the Bharat Army and playfully chanted, "You are not singing now!"

As lunch approached, Patel acknowledged the passionate rivalry but emphasized the respect between the two sets of fans. "It gets nasty by day-end," he stated, "But both sets of fans have set values. No one crosses the line. There could be one or two who may get swayed emotionally but they are pulled back by the rest of the pack."

Later in the day, as the impressive 303-run partnership for the sixth wicket concluded, the Barmy Army switched their chants to "Harry, Harry Brooook. Harry, Harry Broooook," acknowledging Brook's contribution to the game.