English cricket’s greatest record

English cricket’s greatest record

In India’s second Test match against England this July, Jamie Smith hit 100 runs in 80 balls. This rapid century equalled Harry Brook’s effort against Pakistan in 2022, and was only three deliveries more than Jonny Bairstow’s against New Zealand that same summer. Yet none of them matched the record for England’s fastest ever century, set 123 years ago by a stocky Gloucestershireman called Gilbert Jessop. His innings in the Ashes series of 1902 c…