Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he is unsure 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 another Ashes series on English soil is both tantalising and fraught with uncertainty for him. Smith has never lifted an Ashes trophy away from home, and the 2027 contest would likely be his final opportunity to achieve that elusive feat.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, he explained his mindset: "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 record in England is impressive, boasting a Test batting average of 54.27 from 23 matches, accumulating 2,334 runs that include eight centuries and ten fifties. In the 2025 season he averaged just over 50 across nine Tests, and in the three Tests he has played so far this year – one against England and two against Bangladesh – his average sits at a lofty 61.40.
"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 the Ashes, Smith is also keen to extend his T20 career and hopes to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will make a return to the Games. He also weighed in on a technical trend that has been making life difficult for batsmen: the rise of the wobble‑seam delivery in Test cricket.
"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 current English side has not employed a frontline spinner in their recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan, relying instead on part‑time off‑spinner Dan Lawrence to complement a four‑bowler pace attack featuring Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. In contrast, Australia cannot always count on Nathan Lyon, their veteran off‑spinner, especially when conditions favour seam bowling. Smith highlighted the impact of such conditions: "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." Australia's next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series in South Africa beginning on October 9. This will be the first time the Australian side has toured South Africa 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 starting at 11 a.m. UK and Ireland time.
Looking ahead, Smith's ambivalence about the 2027 Ashes reflects a broader theme in modern cricket: the balancing act between longevity, form, and the desire to achieve career milestones. At 38, Smith remains one of the world's premier Test batsmen, yet the physical demands of a five‑day game, especially on English pitches that can swing and seam heavily, are considerable.
His willingness to keep his options open – focusing on each series as it comes – suggests a pragmatic approach that many seasoned players adopt as they near the twilight of their careers. If Smith does end up on the 2027 tour, he would bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record against English conditions.
His ability to adapt his technique to the "tricky surfaces" he mentioned, combined with his leadership qualities, could prove invaluable to a side that is always looking to reclaim the Ashes. Conversely, if he decides to step aside, it would open the door for younger Australian talent to stake a claim for the coveted England tour, ensuring the continuity of the team's competitive edge. Regardless of the final decision, Smith's candidness about his uncertainty adds an intriguing narrative to the build‑up for the next Ashes series.
Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely as the 2027 schedule approaches, hoping to see whether the Australian great will once again take on the challenge of English conditions, or whether a new generation will step into the breach to chase that elusive overseas Ashes triumph.