Steve Smith's Warnings: England's 'Bazballers' to Face Challenging Australian Conditions in Ashes

Australia's interim captain Steve Smith warns England of 'tricky' batting conditions on Australian pitches as Pat Cummins misses the first Ashes Test in Perth. Smith highlights the challenges batters face on seam-friendly surfaces, asserting that scoring runs will be demanding during the upcoming Test series.

Steve Smith, stepping in as Australia's captain for the first Ashes Test in Perth due to Pat Cummins' absence, has issued a stern warning to England's 'Bazballers.' He emphasized that the task of scoring runs will be challenging on Australian pitches, which are expected to favor bowlers. Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that Cummins will miss the opening Test owing to a lumbar bone stress injury.

Speaking about the historically fierce competition set to commence on November 21, Smith noted the striking difference between English and Australian pitches. 'The conditions are going to be different here in Australia,' he remarked, suggesting that batting in the country has become as difficult as it's been in recent years, especially for the top order.

Since 2021, Australia's focus on seam-bowling pitches has lowered batting averages, with the top seven averaging just 30.22 per dismissal. In contrast, in the era of England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach, batters have averaged 38.94. However, Australian opener Travis Head has managed to excel in these conditions, averaging 54.64 at home, indicating the potential keys to success against England's pace attack.

(With inputs from agencies.)