‘The batters are…’- Steve Smith gives stern warning to England batters for Ashes 2025/26

The opening Test of the Ashes 2025/26 will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21, before which the touring England side will feature in a practice game against the Lions as they look forward to regaining the urn since 2015 after a highly-anticipated, thrilling drawn series at home in 2023.

The former Australian captain, Steve Smith, who averages over 56 against the Ben Stokes-led side in the longest format, will represent the Welse Fire in this year’s Hundred 2025 and is expecting a tough challenge for the opponent’s batters. He took a jibe at how the England side changed their track to aiming to win games rather than putting yards in the entertaining business.

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‘Their batters are going to be challenged a little bit differently than the wickets they have had over in England for a while, which have looked pretty flat and good for batting. 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 veteran batter, Steve Smith, expressed during an interaction with the BBC.

Steve Smith gives stern warning to England batters for Ashes 2025/26

Smith also shed light on how the pace attacks of both sides will be the biggest strengths. They, during their recent trip to the Caribbean against the West Indies, struggled to get the runs on the bowling-friendly surfaces, with the highest team score of 286 across the three five-day games. All of their pacers have crossed the 33-age mark, but still got the better of the home side, skittling them for 27 earlier this month.

‘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. They are trying to win the games now, which is perhaps different from what was said in their comments previously.’ Smith added.

He will be participating in the Hundred 2025, which begins on August 05 between the London Spirit and the Oval Invincibles. Welse Fire’s first game will be two days later against the Northern Superchargers.