Sydney, Jan 8: Australia’s triumphant Ashes squad may be dreaming of another chapter in 2027, but stand-in captain Steven Smith admits he is uncertain whether he will be part of that mission.
Smith, who will turn 38 before the next Ashes on English soil, said the desire within the dressing room to finally win an away Ashes remains strong—despite the team being one of the oldest to play together in Test history.
Australia capped a dominant 4-1 series win with a five-wicket victory in Sydney, fielding what statistically ranks among cricket’s most senior sides. Twice this campaign—in Perth and Sydney—the Australians named XIs featuring 10 players aged over 30. Only five other teams have ever done so, all English sides between 1909 and 1926.
Despite external doubts surrounding their age profile, Australia’s veterans thrived. Mitchell Starc, 35, claimed Player of the Series honours with 31 wickets. Scott Boland, 36, played every Test and snared 20 wickets at 24.95, while Michael Neser, 35, collected 15 wickets at under 20 across three matches.
Usman Khawaja became the oldest Australian Test player to bow out at 39 after the SCG finale. The spotlight, however, turned to Smith and the future of Australia’s ageing core.
“I’d love to go over and finally win the Ashes in England,” Smith told Fox Cricket. “It’s something I haven’t done yet, and it’s on my list. But whether I make it there or not is another question. This group has been incredible for four or five years, and hopefully we keep improving.”
Depth Tested, Depth Delivered
The series also showcased Australia’s resilience, with major stars unavailable or carrying injuries. Josh Hazlewood missed the entire tour, Pat Cummins played only once, and Nathan Lyon managed two Tests before being sidelined.
That forced Australia to innovate, often going into matches without a frontline spinner. Yet they still managed to take 20 wickets in four of their five Tests—including their two-day defeat in Melbourne, where they nonetheless claimed 16 wickets without a specialist tweaker.Smith credited wicketkeeper Alex Carey for transforming the seam-heavy strategy into a match-winning approach.
“He was outstanding with bat and gloves,” Smith said. “Going up to the stumps to quicks bowling near 140kph is unbelievable. He changed the way England played, kept them stuck on the crease, and our bowlers backed it up brilliantly.”
A Team Effort Behind Starc and Head
Beyond Starc’s heroics, Travis Head was another standout with the bat, finishing the series with 629 runs. Smith emphasised that Australia’s dominance stemmed not from individuals alone, but from a deep squad rotation—16 players featured across the series, more than England.
“Starc was sensational, but everyone who came in did their job,” Smith said. “We’ve built a group that understands big moments, doesn’t second-guess, and trusts what needs to be done.”The Ashes success adds to a long stretch of consistency—two World Test Championship finals in five years and a core of familiar faces still performing at elite levels.Whether that same group reunites in England remains uncertain. But for now, Australia’s seasoned campaigners have emphatically proved age is just another number. (AP)
