Steve Smith warns England he is even BETTER than he was in 2019
Steve Smith warns England he’s even BETTER than when he dominated the 2019 Ashes with three centuries as Aussie star claims is ready for whatever the hosts throw at him
Steve Smith has set his sights on repeating his heroics on Australia’s last Ashes tour – and believes he might even be a better player than the one who averaged 110 against England in 2019.
Smith will go into Friday’s first Ashes Test ranked second in the world after the ICC’s latest calculations, with team-mates Marnus Labuschagne first and Travis Head third – the first time one country has provided the top three in the batting list since the all-conquering West Indies in 1984.
And he is more than happy to resume his relationship with Edgbaston, where he began the series four years ago with scores of 144 and 142 to set up a huge win.
‘That Test match was probably my favourite out of my career so far, given the circumstances and the importance of the first Ashes Test, particularly away from home,’ he said.
‘Coming back here, I’ve got some wonderful memories to draw on.
![Steve Smith aims to emulate his stunning performances from four years ago in the upcoming Ashes series, which begins at Edgbaston on Friday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/14/15/72130089-0-image-a-1_1686752618125.jpg)
Steve Smith aims to emulate his stunning performances from four years ago in the upcoming Ashes series, which begins at Edgbaston on Friday
![Smith made three centuries in his last tour of England and averaged 110.57 with the bat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/14/15/72130181-0-image-a-4_1686752658398.jpg)
Smith made three centuries in his last tour of England and averaged 110.57 with the bat
‘I hope I’m better than last time. I strive every day to be better.
‘It was a good series for me, and I’d love to replicate something similar and help us lift the urn at the end.
Smith also referenced the 2017-18 Ashes, when he averaged 137 – though there was less mention of the 2021-22 series, when that figure dropped to 30.
And he expects England to throw everything at him again as they try to regain the urn they last won in 2015.
‘We’ve seen over the last 12 months they do some funky things, and they’re going to have to try some different things,’ he said.
‘One of my big strengths is being able to adapt on the go, and solve the problem out there in the middle.’
Smith enters the series on the back of a successful World Test Championship final at The Oval, where his scores of 121 and 34 helped crush India.
He needs only 53 more to become the fourth Australian – after Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting – to reach 9,000 Test runs.
![The former Aussie captain celebrated winning the World Test Championship on Sunday, as Australia thrashed India by 209 runs at The Oval](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/14/15/72130105-0-image-a-2_1686752648812.jpg)
The former Aussie captain celebrated winning the World Test Championship on Sunday, as Australia thrashed India by 209 runs at The Oval
![Smith made 121 in the first innings as Australia took complete control of the game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/14/15/72130143-0-image-a-3_1686752655579.jpg)
Smith made 121 in the first innings as Australia took complete control of the game
Above all, he wants to win in England – something no Australian side has managed since 2001.
‘That’s a huge part of it,’ he said.
‘I’d love to tick it off my bucket list, and I know it’s the same for a lot of the other boys in the room.
‘We’ll give it a good hot crack over the next few weeks.’