Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he has no certainty about his involvement in the 2027 Ashes series slated to take place in England next summer. The 38‑year‑old will celebrate his birthday just weeks before the opening Test at Trent Bridge in June, and the prospect of an Ashes triumph on English soil would be a historic milestone for a player who has never tasted series victory away from home.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Smith was candid about his situation: "I don't even know if I'll be there yet. I'm kind of a series‑by‑series proposition, as I've been for a while.
That's still a fair way away for me right now. I'd love to win [an Ashes in England] but you wait and see if that comes to fruition." His remarks underline a pragmatic approach to his career, treating each series as a separate decision point rather than committing to a long‑term plan. Smith's record in England speaks for itself.
Over 23 Tests on English pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an impressive average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties. Those numbers place him among the most successful overseas batsmen in the country's cricketing history. In the most recent season, 2025, he averaged just over 50 across nine Tests, and in the current year he has already posted a 61.40 average from three matches – one against England and two versus Bangladesh.
"I feel I'm batting really nicely," Smith said. "I've found different ways to go about things on these tricky surfaces and still be able to score runs. So trying to contribute as well as I can for the team, score runs, take catches, help out in leadership areas where I need to – it's been a good, fun couple of years." Beyond his batting, Smith is also looking ahead to extending his T20 career and hopes to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where cricket is expected to make a return.
His thoughts on the evolving nature of Test bowling were also a highlight of the interview. He warned that bowlers have refined the wobble‑seam delivery to such an extent that some balls have become "unplayable." "If it's seaming two degrees, you're not hitting that ball, or you shouldn't be hitting that ball. If you're hitting it, you're probably not a very good batter, to be honest. You're playing down the wrong line.
And if it's coming into you, and it's hitting the top of the stumps and you're getting trapped in front, you can't do anything about it," he explained. Smith's comments came amid a broader discussion about the role of spin in modern Test cricket. England's recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan saw them rely heavily on a four‑bowler pace attack – Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson – with only part‑time spinner Dan Lawrence providing occasional variation. By contrast, Australia’s spin option, veteran off‑spinner Nathan Lyon, is no longer a guaranteed selection, especially on pitches that favour seam movement.
"When the ball's moving as much as it is, and you can create relentless pressure by bowlers just continually hitting the spot, spin's by far the easiest thing to face and the thing that you can score freely off," Smith said. "It's a shame that we've had such spicy wickets that it's got to that point, because I love playing a spinner.
I love watching spin bowlers bowl. I was a spin bowler myself back in the day. I'd love to see spin play much more of a part in Test cricket again." Looking ahead, Australia’s next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series against South Africa beginning on 9 October.
This will be the first away series against the Proteas since the fallout from the 2018 ball‑tampering scandal that resulted in bans for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with all matches starting at 11 a.m.
UK and Ireland time. Smith’s ambivalence about the 2027 Ashes reflects a broader theme in elite sport: the balance between personal ambition, physical longevity, and team needs.
At 38, he is already among the oldest active Test players, and the physical demands of touring England – with its often damp, swinging conditions – are not trivial. Yet his statistical record suggests that, if he does play, he would still be a formidable opponent for any English attack. The potential for an Ashes victory in England would be a crowning achievement for Smith’s career. He has already won three Ashes series at home (2013‑14, 2017‑18, 2021‑22) and has been a key figure in Australia’s dominance over the past decade.
Securing a win on English soil would not only fill the only gap in his Ashes résumé but also cement his legacy as one of the most adaptable and resilient batsmen of his generation. In the meantime, Smith remains focused on the present, continuing to adapt his technique to the evolving challenges posed by modern bowlers. His willingness to experiment with new shot selections and to refine his approach on “tricky surfaces” demonstrates a mindset that has kept him at the top of the game for more than a decade. Whether or not he ends up in the 2027 squad, his contributions to Australian cricket – both as a player and as a mentor – will likely endure long after his final innings.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely as the selection window narrows. The decision will hinge on Smith’s fitness, form, and the strategic direction the Australian board wishes to take heading into what could be his final Ashes opportunity.
For now, the former captain simply acknowledges the uncertainty: "You wait and see if that comes to fruition."