Birmingham, July 4 -- Former cricketer Michael Atherton had some "sympathy" for India Test captain Shubman Gill, who is "under the pump" after England youngsters Harry Brook and Jamie Smith came hard at the tourists on the third day of the second Test at Edgbaston.

Brook and Smith upped the ante to pull off a rescue act for England after Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes fell early in the first session, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj's sweltering pace. From two wickets in two deliveries and tottering at 84/5, England roared to 355/5 at Tea after savouring a wicketless second session.

With Brook and Smith dissecting India's attack, bereft of the world's best Jasprit Bumrah, to set the tone of the contest in England's favour, Atherton had sympa...