Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he "does not know" whether he will be part of the Ashes squad when it heads to England next summer. The 38‑year‑old will celebrate his birthday just weeks before the opening Test at Trent Bridge in June 2027, and the prospect of playing in a series on English soil is a tantalising one for a player who has never lifted the Ashes away from home. Smith hinted that the 2027 contest could be his final chance to achieve that elusive feat.
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. 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 reflect a pragmatic mindset, treating each series as a separate decision point rather than committing to a long‑term plan. Smith's statistics in England speak for themselves. Over 23 Tests on English pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an impressive average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties. Those numbers place him among the most successful visiting batsmen in the history of the rivalry.
In the 2025 season, across nine Tests, he maintained an average just above 50, and in the current year he has already compiled 61.40 runs per innings from three matches – one against England and two against Bangladesh – showing that his form remains strong despite his advancing age. When asked about his recent performances, 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." He emphasized the importance of adapting his technique to the often‑unpredictable English conditions, noting that he has learned to play with a softer hand and to adjust his footwork to counter the seam movement that characterises many of the country's pitches.
Beyond Test cricket, 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 a medal sport. He also weighed in on a growing trend in the longer format: bowlers perfecting the wobble‑seam delivery. "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. Smith's observations highlight the increasing difficulty batters face when dealing with bowlers who can generate subtle, yet lethal, seam movement. He contrasted this with the relative ease of facing quality spin on a pitch that offers turn.
"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," he said. He lamented the scarcity of genuine spin options in modern Test cricket, noting that England's recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan featured only part‑time spinner Dan Lawrence alongside a four‑bowler pace attack. For Australia, the situation is similar. Nathan Lyon, once a guaranteed selection, is now subject to the same seam‑friendly conditions that dominate many venues, making his inclusion less certain.
Smith expressed a desire to see spin regain a more prominent role: "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 in South Africa starting on October 9. This marks the first time the 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 be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with all matches slated to begin at 11 a.m.
UK and Ireland time. In summary, while Steve Smith remains uncertain about his place in the 2027 Ashes squad, his record in England suggests he could still be a valuable asset if selected. His adaptability, experience, and leadership continue to benefit the Australian side, even as he balances aspirations in the shorter formats and advocates for a greater role for spin in the Test arena.
Whether he will don the baggy green for another Ashes tour remains to be seen, but his contributions to Australian cricket, both past and present, are undeniably significant.