Steve Smith noncommittal on playing 2027 Ashes, says fitness will decide
Australia batter Steve Smith says he has not decided on the 2027 Ashes in England and is focused on one series at a time.
Australia's veteran star batter Steve Smith has expressed major uncertainty over his participation in the prestigious 2027 Ashes series in England. Smith, now 37, is in the final phase of his international career and is focusing on one series at a time rather than looking too far ahead. The Ashes series is considered hugely important for Australia.
Smith is currently playing for the Amsterdam Flames in the European T20 Premier League. During this stint, he spoke openly about his plans going forward. In contrast to the uncertainty around Test cricket, Smith showed enthusiasm about playing T20 cricket. Cricket has been included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and Smith said clearly that playing for the Australian team at this historic Olympics is his main target.
Asked whether he would play the 2027 Ashes series, Smith said, "I haven't made any firm decision on the 2027 Ashes series at the moment. I'm 37 years old and right now I'm moving forward thinking about one series at a time. How my body and form hold up will decide what comes next."
Regarded as the backbone of Australia's batting, Steve Smith has achieved several major milestones in his Test career. Smith has played 125 Test matches so far and has 37 Test centuries to his name. He currently ranks second in the ICC men's Test rankings, behind England's Harry Brook.
The Australian team is set to tour South Africa this October to play a three-match Test series. This tour holds great significance for Smith. Since the ball-tampering scandal, Smith has made a strong comeback in international cricket and set several records. But playing in South Africa, the country where the biggest controversy of his career unfolded, will be a major challenge for him. Cricket fans around the world will be watching closely to see how Smith performs in the October series.
