London, March 18 (NationPress) England's wicketkeeper-batter, Jamie Smith, expresses that his absence from the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) could turn out to be a significant advantage. He noted that this time off would allow him to focus on essential red-ball preparation before the upcoming Test series against New Zealand in June.

Smith faced challenges during the recent Ashes series, where he scored only 211 runs and achieved just one half-century across five Tests, resulting in a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Australia. After not being picked during last year’s IPL auction, he also found himself excluded from England's white-ball teams for the tour to Sri Lanka and the Men’s T20 World Cup.

“Initially, I would have loved the opportunity to participate in the IPL as it's a goal of mine to enhance all aspects of my game. I believe the IPL can greatly benefit my white-ball performance and also has positive implications for my red-ball play,” Smith stated.

“Looking back, it’s beneficial to be home and dedicate time to red-ball cricket. I felt somewhat out of sync towards the latter part of last summer and into the winter.”

“It has been rewarding to practice here at The Oval and refine my skills. I aim to implement these improvements in six to seven County Championship matches, and we’ll evaluate my progress for any potential national team opportunities afterward. It’s great to have this time to get things in order,” he elaborated, as reported by ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.

Smith's experience during the Ashes in Australia was marked by some tough moments, including a missed catch of Travis Head that contributed to England's heavy loss at the Gabba, and criticism for a poor shot that led to his dismissal against Marnus Labuschagne in Sydney, which was considered one of the series' most regrettable errors.

While he reflected on the challenges of playing in Australia, he refrained from being overly critical of himself, acknowledging the strain of consecutive long Test series. “Mistakes are inevitable. The series against India was both physically and mentally exhausting, marking my first five-Test series,” he noted.

“We were fielding for 22 out of 25 days or something outrageous, with all Tests extending to five days. By the end, I was thoroughly fatigued both physically and mentally. The key takeaway was to maintain high standards from the first game to the last.”

“The same went for the tour in Australia. Despite some matches not lasting as long as anticipated, I don’t believe my performance dropped significantly,” he added.

Smith recognized that his individual performance did not meet expectations, while also acknowledging Australia’s strong showing throughout the series. “It was a challenging tour, filled with high hopes to perform well, but things didn’t unfold as planned,” he admitted.

“I would have preferred to contribute more over the five games for our team to secure additional victories, but unfortunately, that didn’t occur, and my performance was below what was needed. It's disappointing, yet it serves as a learning opportunity.”

“Competing against a world-class team can sometimes overshadow the caliber of the opposition. It’s a learning experience, and I’m entering the new season refreshed and excited to be back at Surrey,” he concluded.