Sussex spell has nothing to do with preparing for Ashes, claims Steve Smith

Steve Smith has sought to douse the gently smouldering embers of controversy surrounding his use of the County Championship to prepare himself for facing England in this summer’s Ashes, insisting that his next few weeks at Sussex will make no difference whatsoever to his chances of success once the series gets under way in June.

“I don’t think that’s the case at all,” he said of the possibility England would come to regret letting him into their domestic game. “I’ve seen a lot of talk about getting used to conditions but you’ve got to remember I’ve played a lot of cricket in England before, so the conditions aren’t really new to me. I’m just keen to play some cricket.”

Few Englishmen have difficulty remembering that he has played plenty of cricket here before – after 26 Ashes innings in England, and six centuries, his average is 65.08 – and in the circumstances it is no surprise he could not wait to get back. “It’s something I’ve never done and always wanted to do,” he said of county cricket. “The stars aligned in a way. We’re over here for the summer and it’s a good opportunity to play. I’m excited.”

Smith will play in Sussex’s next three games, starting on Thursday at Worcestershire. If the conditions are familiar his place in the batting order will not be, with Cheteshwar Pujara established at Smith’s preferred position of No 4 – the Australian will come in at five. “I haven’t been that low for a while, hopefully the boys can pile them on and I’ll come in on the back of them,” he said.

Stuart Broad fired the opening salvo in the traditional pre-Ashes war of words last week, suggesting of the series in Australia 18 months ago, when England battled intense Covid restrictions and were turned over 4-0, that he had