Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he "does not know" whether he will be part of the Australian side that travels to England for the 2027 Ashes series. The former captain will be 38 years old just a few weeks before the opening Test at Trent Bridge in June, and the prospect of playing another Ashes in England is both tantalising and uncertain for him. Smith has never lifted an Ashes trophy on English soil.
All of his previous series victories have come at home, so the 2027 contest would likely be his final opportunity to win the coveted series abroad. 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 record in England speaks for itself. Over 23 Tests on the island, Smith has amassed 2,334 runs at an impressive average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties.
Those numbers underline his ability to handle the swinging, seaming conditions that often trouble visiting batsmen. 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—he is sitting on a 61.40 average. When asked about his recent form, Smith said, "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. 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." His enthusiasm for the game remains evident, even as he contemplates the twilight years of his Test career. Beyond the Test arena, Smith is 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 Olympic programme. He also voiced concerns about a new generation of bowlers who have refined the wobble‑seam delivery, a ball that he described as "unplayable" at times.
"Some balls now have your name on them 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, hitting the top of the stumps and you're getting trapped in front, you can't do anything about it," he explained. The evolution of seam bowling has placed additional pressure on batsmen, especially on pitches that offer movement. England, for instance, opted not to use a frontline spinner during their recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan, relying instead on part‑timer Dan Lawrence to complement a four‑bowler attack comprising Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. For Australia, the selection of spin bowler Nathan Lyon is no longer a guaranteed choice, given the prevalence of seam‑friendly wickets.
Smith highlighted the contrast between seam and spin, noting, "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 will be a three‑match series in 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.
The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with all matches commencing at 11 am UK and Ireland time. Looking ahead, Smith's uncertainty about the 2027 Ashes reflects a broader reality for many seasoned cricketers: balancing personal ambition, physical readiness, and team requirements as they approach the later stages of their careers. While his exact plans remain undecided, his continued passion for both batting and spin bowling suggests that, whatever his decision, he will remain an influential figure in Australian cricket, whether on the field, in the dressing room, or as a mentor to younger players.