Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he "does not know" whether he will be part of the Australian squad for the 2027 Ashes tour of England. The 38‑year‑old will celebrate his birthday just weeks before the opening Test at Trent Bridge in June, and the prospect of playing an Ashes series on English soil would represent his final realistic opportunity to win the trophy away from home, something he has never achieved.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Smith explained his cautious approach to future selection. "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," he said, adding that he would love to add an English Ashes win to his résumé but that the decision would ultimately depend on how things develop over the next few years. Smith's statistics in England speak for themselves. Across 23 Tests on English pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an impressive average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties. His recent form has been equally strong: he averaged just over 50 in the nine Tests he played in 2025, and in the three matches he has featured in this calendar year – one against England and two versus Bangladesh – he is sitting on a 61.40 average.

"I feel I'm batting really nicely. I've found different ways to go about things on these tricky surfaces and still be able to score runs," Smith noted.

Beyond the runs, Smith emphasized his broader contributions to the side. "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," he said, highlighting his willingness to support the squad in multiple capacities. Smith also hinted at his ambitions beyond Test cricket.

He remains eager to extend his T20 career and has expressed a desire to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where cricket is slated to make its debut as a medal sport. This dual focus illustrates his commitment to staying relevant across formats while still cherishing the traditional red‑ball game.

When asked about the evolving nature of Test bowling, Smith lamented the rise of the wobble‑seam delivery, describing it as a nightmare for batsmen. "There are some balls now that are just unplayable.

Some of these balls have your name on it and you can't do anything about it. 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. The challenges posed by seam and swing have been evident in recent series.

England, for instance, opted not to field a frontline spinner during their 3‑0 home sweep of Pakistan, relying instead on part‑time bowler Dan Lawrence to complement a four‑pronged pace attack featuring Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. In contrast, Australia’s selection of spin has become less certain, with Nathan Lyon not guaranteed a place in conditions that favor seam movement. Smith voiced his affection for spin bowling, despite the current emphasis on pace.

"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. 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," he said. Looking ahead, Australia's next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series in South Africa starting on 9 October.

This will be the first time the Australian side has toured the Proteas away from home since 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 slated to begin at 11 a.m.

UK and Ireland time. In summary, while Smith remains uncertain about his participation in the 2027 Ashes, his record in England, his adaptability on difficult pitches, and his enthusiasm for both batting and spin bowling underscore his continued relevance to Australian cricket.

Whether he will don the baggy green for what could be his final Ashes tour remains to be seen, but his contributions on and off the field continue to shape the team's outlook for the years ahead.