Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he cannot say at this stage whether he will be part of the Australian squad that travels to England for the 2027 Ashes. The 38‑year‑old will celebrate his birthday only a few weeks before the opening Test at Trent Bridge in June, and the prospect of playing another Ashes on foreign soil is both tantalising and uncertain for him.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Smith was candid about his approach to selection. "I don't even know if I'll be there yet," he said, adding that he now evaluates his career on a series‑by‑series basis. "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." Smith’s record in England is impressive: across 23 Tests he has amassed 2,334 runs at an average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties. Those numbers underline his ability to thrive on the swinging, seam‑friendly pitches that characterize English conditions.
In 2025, over nine Tests, he averaged just over 50, and his form this year has been equally strong – he has scored 61.40 in three matches, one against England and two versus Bangladesh. When asked about his recent performances, Smith explained that he feels he is “batting really nicely” and has learned to adapt his technique to the tricky surfaces he encounters.
"I've found different ways to go about things on these tricky surfaces and still be able to score runs," he said. He also highlighted his broader contributions to the side: taking catches, offering leadership, and generally trying to help the team in every possible way. "It's been a good, fun couple of years," he added.
Beyond Test cricket, Smith is eager to extend his T20 career and has his sights set on representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where cricket will make a return as a medal sport. This ambition reflects his desire to stay involved in the game across formats, even as his future in the longest form remains uncertain.
Smith also commented on a technical trend that has been making life difficult for batsmen: the rise of the wobble‑seam delivery. He described some of the new balls as "unplayable" and suggested that if a batsman is struck by a ball that seams two degrees off the line, it either indicates a poor shot selection or a fundamental flaw in technique.
"If you're hitting it, you're probably not a very good batter, to be honest. You're playing down the wrong line," he warned. He also noted that deliveries that hit the top of the stumps and trap a batsman in front are almost impossible to defend against.
The discussion of bowling tactics led Smith to talk about the role of spin in modern Test cricket. He lamented that England’s recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan featured no specialist spinner, relying instead on part‑time bowler Dan Lawrence and a four‑man pace attack consisting of Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. For Australia, the selection of veteran off‑spinner Nathan Lyon has become less certain in conditions that favour seam.
"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. He expressed a personal fondness for spin, recalling that he bowled spin earlier in his career. "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 added, noting that the current “spicy” wickets have made spin a valuable weapon.
Looking ahead, Australia’s next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series in South Africa beginning 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.
The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with all matches starting at 11 a.m. UK and Ireland time. Smith’s uncertainty about the 2027 Ashes reflects a broader reality for many senior cricketers: balancing personal aspirations, physical demands, and the evolving nature of the game. While his record suggests he could still make a decisive impact, the decision will ultimately hinge on form, fitness, and the strategic direction chosen by Australian selectors as the next Ashes approaches.