Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he is uncertain whether he will be part of the Australian squad for the 2027 Ashes series in 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 in an Ashes tour on English soil could represent his final opportunity to win the series away from home. 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," he said.
"I've been treating each series as a separate decision for a while now. The 2027 tour is still a long way off for me, so I’ll have to see how things develop." He added that while he would love to add an English Ashes victory to his résumé, the outcome remains uncertain and will depend on his form and fitness as the date approaches. Smith’s statistical record in England is impressive. Over 23 Tests on English pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties.
His recent form has been equally strong: across nine Tests in 2025 he averaged just over 50, and in the three Tests he has played this year—one against England and two versus Bangladesh—he is sitting on a 61.40 average. "I feel I’m batting really nicely," Smith remarked. "I’ve found different ways to negotiate these tricky surfaces while still scoring runs.
I want to contribute as much as possible—whether that’s with the bat, in the field, or in leadership roles. It’s been a good, fun couple of years." Beyond his Test ambitions, Smith is keen to extend his T20 career and hopes to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where cricket will return as an event. He also shared his thoughts on a growing trend in Test bowling: the wobble‑seam delivery.
"There are some balls now that are just unplayable," he warned. "If a ball is seaming two degrees off the line, you either leave it or you’re not a very good batsman. If it’s swinging in and hitting the top of the stumps, there’s nothing you can do." Smith’s comments highlight the increasing difficulty batters face when bowlers perfect these subtle, movement‑rich deliveries.
The conversation shifted to spin bowling, an area where Smith believes the game could benefit from more variety. He noted that England’s recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan featured a frontline attack of four pacers—Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson—supported only by part‑time spinner Dan Lawrence.
In contrast, Australia’s selection of Nathan Lyon has become less certain in conditions that favor seam. "When the ball is moving a lot, bowlers can apply relentless pressure by hitting the right spots," Smith explained. "Spin, by comparison, is the easiest thing to face and offers more scoring opportunities. I love playing against spinners and watching them bowl; I was a spin bowler myself in my early days.
I’d love to see spin play a larger role in Test cricket again." Looking ahead, Australia’s next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series against South Africa starting on 9 October. 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.
All three Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with 11 a.m. start times for UK and Irish audiences. Smith’s candid reflections provide a window into the mindset of a player who has already achieved so much yet remains hungry for new challenges. His uncertainty about the 2027 Ashes underscores the physical and mental considerations that come with a long career at the highest level.
While his record in England suggests he could still make a decisive impact, the decision will ultimately hinge on his health, form, and the strategic direction of Australian cricket in the coming years. Regardless of the outcome, Smith’s passion for the game—whether batting, fielding, or even spin bowling—continues to shine through, promising fans an engaging and thoughtful presence on and off the field.