AUSTRALIA’S Steve Smith believes that England’s batters will be in for a surprise when they come down for this year’s Ashes series.<\/p>\n
Across the last three tours to Australia, England has certainly struggled to compete. In fact, the men’s side has not won a Test match in Australia since 2011, showing the one-sided nature of the Ashes when England tours.<\/p>\n
But with England’s coach Brendon McCullum and his “Bazball’ approach to Test cricket, this has given England hope of reclaiming the urn for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n
Since taking over the English side in 2022, McCullum has coached England to win 22 of their 35 matches in the five-day format. This has delivered series wins against New Zealand (home and away), Pakistan (away in 2022), Sri Lanka (home), West Indies (home) and a drawn Ashes series back in 2023.<\/p>\n
But the majority of their wins (14 out of 22) have been achieved playing at home on mostly flat pitches, which are designed to suit the aggressive batting strategy that England employs.<\/p>\n
Speaking with BBC Sport ahead of his debut appearance with the Welsh Fire in the ECB’s The Hundred Tournament, Smith thinks that this year’s Ashes will be a belter.<\/p>\n
But, he also expects that the English batters will likely struggle with the more bowler friendly pitches compared to the surfaces they have been playing on currently against India.<\/p>\n
“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 said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
At the age of 36, Smith is certainly in the second half of his career and is already thinking about life after cricket.<\/p>\n
He has already taken some steps towards his eventual departure.<\/p>\n
The current vice-captain of the national team retired from international one-day cricket earlier in the year to reduce his load and free himself up to play in short-form cricket tournaments like The Hundred and Major League Cricket in the US.<\/p>\n
Playing in events like The Hundred has been a deliberate move by Smith to try and preserve himself for his ultimate goal. To play in the 2028 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
Cricket will be making its grand re-appearance at the biggest sporting event in the world after a 128-year hiatus, and Smith intends to feature in it, at the age of 39.<\/p>\n
“I decided to stop playing one-day cricket so I can play more franchises, with the aim to make the Olympic team,” he explained.<\/p>\n
“So, to play more shorter-form tournaments around the world is only going to be beneficial.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The Ashes begin in Perth on November 21st. It will be the first time that Western Australia has hosted the opening men’s Ashes Test since 1982.<\/p>\n