London, Aug 15 (NationPress) Renowned Australian batsman Steve Smith has cautioned that the English batting lineup is set for a formidable challenge in this year's Ashes series, as they confront difficult conditions in Australia and a highly skilled Australian bowling squad poised to put them to the test.

The five-Test Ashes series is scheduled to commence in Perth on November 21, and England, adopting their dynamic Bazball strategy, is geared up to perform well in Australia. Their recent Test match concluded with a 2-2 draw against India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

“I've observed much of the series against India, and I believe it was one of the finest Test series I've witnessed in recent times. The quality of cricket displayed by both teams was exceptional. England currently possesses a strong side, playing an aggressive style of cricket, but coming to Australia, especially for their batters, will present a significant challenge,” shared Smith.

“The wickets over the past three to four years have proven to be quite challenging. Our bowling lineup is very experienced, with players who have been part of the game for an extended period and have achieved great success. I'm eagerly anticipating this summer,” he added.

“This series is going to be thrilling. The previous Ashes match occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant the Barmy Army and other fans couldn't attend. The atmosphere will be completely different this time around. We thrive in front of large and passionate crowds on both sides, making it a lot of fun,” Smith continued during an interview with Sky Sports, while participating with Welsh Fire in The Hundred.

In England's batting lineup, Joe Root is viewed as crucial to their hopes of reclaiming the Ashes, despite not having scored a Test century in Australia yet. With 13,543 Test runs to his name, Root is only 2,378 runs shy of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, ranked number one. Smith commended Root's recent ability to convert fifties into significant scores.

“Over the last two years, he has been phenomenal. His capability to transform fifties into hundreds was something he struggled with previously. Now, he consistently capitalizes and scores big. Although he hasn't reached a century in Australia yet, I know this is something he aims to achieve,” Smith remarked.

“It's been a topic of discussion, and I’m sure it’s on his bucket list as well. As for batting, particularly for the top-order batsmen, it will be challenging. From an Australian perspective, I hope he doesn’t score a hundred this summer, but I know he will be putting in the effort to achieve it,” he added.

Smith emphasized that Australia will focus on allowing their skills to lead them to victory in the series against England, stating, “Our recent style of play has been about letting our skills shine. We've performed excellently in Test cricket over the past four years, reaching two World Test Championship finals. We are doing many things correctly, and we are familiar with Australian conditions. We hope our skills will surpass those of England.”

When asked if there was any English fast bowler he feared facing, Smith dismissed the notion, saying, “No, I believe you want the best players to play at all times. As a player, it's exciting to compete against the best.”

“No fears here. I’m just looking forward to what promises to be an exciting series, particularly with two exceptional fast bowling attacks going head-to-head. Both teams boast numerous talented batsmen, making it a splendid series ahead.”