“It takes me two hits to get sorted”-  ‘Ready’ Steve Smith fires warning to England ahead of the Ashes 2025-26

Steve Smith is expected to captain Australia in the Ashes 2025-26 opener in the absence of Pat Cummins.

Australian batter Steve Smith sent a massive warning to England Cricket Team ahead of the Ashes 2025-26. He said that he is already ready for the series and this came just after a few net sessions after his break in New York.

The Ashes 2025-26 is all set to begin on 21st November in Perth and Steve Smith no doubt will be an important player for Australia. The right-hander arguably is one of the best test batters of the current era and a lot would depend on him, especially with Australia eyeing to retain the Ashes urn. 

Steve Smith is all set to get an added responsibility in the series. Skipper Pat Cummins is expected to miss the first game of the series if not all five games. The pacer suffered a back injury during the fag end of the West Indies series in July and since then has been out of action.

Smith recently returned to Sydney and had three nets sessions before facing the New South Wales attack. He will be playing two Sheffield Shield matches before the Ashes and even before that he declared himself ready, 

Steve Smith said that it took him two hits to get sorted but he is ready now. He admitted that he has been training hard and is in good shape. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said: 

“Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m ready to go now. I feel like I’m moving really nicely. I feel in a good place. I’ve been training quite hard. I’ve been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get a bit stronger. And I did all my strength tests yesterday and they’re all as good as they’ve ever been. So I feel like I’m going good.”

Smith also shared his take on Pat Cummins, saying that the pacer might play all the games, highlighting that his presence makes Australia look even stronger. He added: 

“Things can turn around pretty quickly so we’ll see where everything lands with him,” Smith said. He’s obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling, but he was in good spirits and the team’s obviously better with him in it for sure. Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests, as many as we can get out of him, it’s the best for the team.”

I’ve got a certain style and the way I like to do things and I need to be authentic – Steve Smith

When asked about the captaincy, Smith said that he is well aware of how the team works but he has his own style and he will be authentic. He said:

“It’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Smith said. “I know how the team operates. We’re in a good place. So if it happens, I’ll look forward to it. I think the important thing is doing it my way. I think when I get out on the field, I’ve got a certain style and the way I like to do things and I need to be authentic. 

“I think it’s worked well when I’ve stood in over the last few years. It’ll just be a seamless sort of transition if that comes around.”

The captaincy brings the best out of Steve Smith. His average while captaining is 68.98 and if he leads the team, he will be the backbone of the team. 

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