Jamie Smith celebrated his first Test century, scoring 111 against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, attributing part of his success to former England batsman Ian Bell, who is currently a batting consultant for Sri Lanka. Smith's innings helped England secure a first-innings lead of 122 runs, placing them in a dominant position with Sri Lanka at 204 for 6 by stumps. Bell, who mentored Smith during his time with the England Lions and Birmingham Phoenix, praised the young wicketkeeper's potential, predicting he will be a 'world-class player for England' in the future. Smith's controlled performance marked the most disciplined Test century by an Englishman since Joe Root in 2022. Despite narrowly missing out on a century previously, Smith showcased confidence and skill, earning recognition as one of the leading players in the current series. Bell acknowledged the hard work Smith has put into his development and expressed pride in his achievements.