Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he is uncertain whether he will be part of the 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 an Ashes triumph on English soil remains a tantalising, yet unconfirmed, goal for him. In an interview with The Telegraph, Smith explained his approach to selection, saying, "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 comments underline a pragmatic mindset: rather than committing to a distant tournament, he prefers to assess his form and fitness on a series‑by‑series basis.
Smith’s record in England is impressive. Over 23 Tests on British pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties.
Those numbers illustrate why many fans still hope to see him add an overseas Ashes victory to his résumé, a feat that has eluded him so far. His recent form backs that optimism.
In the 2025 English summer he averaged just over 50 across nine Tests, and in the three Tests he has played this year – one against England and two versus Bangladesh – his average stands 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 Test arena, Smith is keen to extend his T20 career and even has his sights set on representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will make a return as a medal sport. His ambition in the shorter format demonstrates his desire to stay relevant across all forms of the game as he approaches the twilight of his playing days. When asked about the growing prevalence of the wobble‑seam delivery – a ball that swings dramatically and can be almost impossible to negotiate – Smith was candid.
"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.
His remarks highlight the increasing technical challenges bowlers are imposing on top‑order batsmen, especially on pitches that offer abundant seam movement. England’s recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan saw them rely heavily on a four‑man pace attack – Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson – with only part‑time spinner Dan Lawrence providing occasional variation.
This strategy underscores the current trend of teams favouring seam over spin in English conditions, a development Smith believes is detrimental to the balance of the game. For Australia, the selection of spin bowler Nathan Lyon has become less certain when the conditions favour seam. Smith remarked, "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." 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 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 serve as a crucial barometer for Smith’s form and fitness ahead of any potential Ashes selection. All three Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with kick‑off at 11 a.m.
UK and Ireland time, providing fans across the region ample opportunity to watch the action. Whether Smith ultimately makes the 2027 Ashes squad remains to be seen, but his continued high performance, adaptability on difficult pitches, and enthusiasm for both spin and limited‑overs cricket suggest he will remain a pivotal figure in Australian cricket for the foreseeable future.