[WATCH] "For England's batters..."- Australia star throws challenge ahead of Ashes 2025/26

The former captain of the Australian side, Steve Smith, has shown his excitement for the upcoming five-match Test series against England in the Ashes 2025/26 during the home summer. The veteran reckoned that it would be great fun for both sets of players to show their skills and determination before the hostile crowd.

England haven’t won a single Ashes Test in their last three trips since winning the urn back in 2011. They were whitewashed in the 2013/14 series. England recently drew their home red-ball series against India, despite being 2-1 up after the third fixture at Lord’s, which they won.

“I watched a lot of the series against India, and I felt that was the best Test series for a long time, with the cricket played by both teams. So, I think England is a very good side at the moment.” Steve Smith expressed during a recent interview on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Steve Smith throws England new challenge before Ashes 2025/26

Smith has smashed 3417 Test runs in 66 innings against England at an average of 56.02 and a strike rate of 54.75 with the help of 12 centuries and 13 half-centuries at the best score of 239 runs. At home, he has notched up 5015 runs in 100 innings at an average of nearly 60, scoring 19 fifties and 18 centuries.

“They play a very aggressive brand of cricket, and coming down to Australia, particularly for the batters, the wickets, in the last three or four years, have been tricky. We have, obviously, got a very experienced bowling line-up who have played for a long time. They have been incredibly successful.” The New South Wales batter shed light during the same interview.

“So, I am excited for the summer. Hopefully, it will be a great series. I know, the last Ashes was during Covid. So, the Barmy Army couldn’t come. But this atmosphere will be different. We love to play in front of a big and hostile crowd. So, it will be really good fun.” Steve Smith concluded that Australia looks to retain the Ashes with another drawn and won series.