England face a tougher Ashes test on Australian soil, says Smith
Steve Smith has sounded an early warning to England ahead of the 2025 Ashes, suggesting that batting-friendly conditions they’re accustomed to at home won’t prepare them for the challenges of Australian surfaces.
In his interview with BBC Sport, Smith said, “Their batters are going to be challenged a little bit differently to the wickets they have had over in England for a while, which have looked pretty flat and good for batting.” He added, “The wickets in Australia in the last three or four years have been very tricky for top order batters. It is going to be a good challenge for them.”
The Ashes will kick off on November 21 in Perth, a venue known for pace and bounce. With England eager to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015, this edition is shaping up as one of the most anticipated Ashes series in years—particularly after the 2023 series ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Pacers will be key as both teams shift their approaches
While Smith has long dominated the Ashes—with a career average of 56.01 in Tests against England—he acknowledged that both teams are undergoing evolution, especially in their batting strategies and how they approach game situations.
“They have started to play a little bit differently in the last couple of weeks in terms of playing the situation, as opposed to going out and trying to be the entertainers that they said they wanted to be,” Smith noted. “They are actually trying to win the games now which is perhaps different to what was said in their comments previously.”
Smith believes that pace attacks will once again be the defining strength for both sides. Australia’s fast-bowling trio—Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland—recently demonstrated their continued potency, bundling out West Indies for just 27 in a dominant display that didn’t even require skipper Pat Cummins to bowl. Despite the chatter around the age and longevity of Australia’s veteran quicks, they remain a formidable force.
England, meanwhile, are currently engaged in a gritty Test series against India, which Smith praised for its high quality. “But it’s going to be a wonderful series. I have been watching the India and England series and there has been some great cricket played there, so I think the Ashes this year is going to be an absolute belter.”
Smith eyes Olympic dream through T20 franchises
Off the back of a glittering Test career, Smith is now pivoting his focus toward franchise cricket and shorter formats, eyeing a return to Australia’s T20 setup—motivated in part by a new Olympic ambition.
“I decided to stop playing one-day cricket so I can play more franchises, with the aim to make the Olympic team,” Smith revealed. With cricket set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Games for the first time since 1900, Smith views franchise T20 tournaments as the ideal platform to stay competitive.
“So to play more shorter-form tournaments around the world is only going to be beneficial,” he said. “It has been a long run for me and I have been doing this a long time. I am still enjoying it and particularly the shorter formats, and want to keep putting my name out there.”
The stage is set
With both sides refining their strategies, new players emerging, and old rivalries intensifying, the 2025 Ashes promises drama, skill, and a fresh test for England under very different conditions. For Smith and Australia, the message is clear: England will need more than ‘Bazball’ bravado to thrive Down Under.
