Steve Smith, the veteran Australian batsman, admitted that he is uncertain whether he will be part of the Australian squad that travels to England for the 2027 Ashes series. The 38‑year‑old will celebrate his birthday only a few weeks before the first Test at Trent Bridge in June, and the prospect of playing an Ashes series on English soil for the first time in his career is both tantalising and fraught with doubt. In an interview with The Telegraph, Smith said, "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 approach to his future: rather than committing to a distant tournament, he prefers to assess his form, fitness and personal motivations on a series‑by‑series basis. Smith’s record in England is nothing short of spectacular.
Over 23 Tests on English pitches he has amassed 2,334 runs at an average of 54.27, including eight centuries and ten fifties. Those numbers place him among the most successful overseas batsmen in Ashes history, yet he has never been part of a victorious Australian side on English soil.
The 2027 contest could therefore represent his final opportunity to achieve that elusive milestone. His recent form further bolsters the case for his inclusion. In the 2025 season, Smith averaged just over 50 across nine Tests, and in the three Tests he has played this year—one against England and two versus Bangladesh—he is sitting on a lofty 61.40 average.
"I feel I'm batting really nicely," he 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 Ashes, Smith is also eyeing a prolonged career in the shorter formats. He has expressed a desire to stay in the Australian T20 setup and to represent his country at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket is set to make a return as an Olympic sport.
Balancing the demands of Test cricket with the fast‑paced T20 circuit adds another layer of complexity to his decision‑making process. During the conversation, Smith also weighed in on a technical trend that has been reshaping modern Test batting: the rise of the wobble‑seam delivery. He described certain balls as "unplayable," noting that when a delivery seams just a couple of degrees off the expected line, the batsman is forced into a defensive stance. "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.
The discussion naturally turned to the role of spin bowling in contemporary Test cricket. England’s recent 3‑0 home series win over Pakistan featured a pace‑heavy attack—Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson—supported only by part‑time off‑spinner Dan Lawrence. In contrast, Australia’s selection of Nathan Lyon has become less certain on seam‑friendly pitches, prompting Smith to argue that spin should have a larger presence.
"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," he said. Looking ahead, Australia’s next major red‑ball assignment is a three‑match series in South Africa, scheduled to begin on 9 October.
This will be the first away series against the Proteas 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 am UK time, offering fans a chance to see whether Smith can maintain his high standards on another challenging surface before the Ashes decision looms.
In summary, Steve Smith stands at a crossroads. His statistical pedigree in England, his current form, and his enthusiasm for both Test and limited‑overs cricket all point toward a continued presence on the world stage.
Yet the uncertainties of age, workload management, and the evolving nature of the game mean that his participation in the 2027 Ashes remains an open question. As he puts it, the answer will only become clear with time: "You wait and see if that comes to fruition."