For the primary time in his glittering profession, Steve Smith is reportedly set to play county cricket as he ramps up his preparations for the Ashes sequence.
Australia will head over to England to contest the Ashes within the English summer season, with the First Test scheduled to start on June 16.
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The Aussies will look to retain the urn for the fourth straight iteration of the well-known sequence after decimating the Poms 4-0 after they toured Down Under in the summertime of 2021 and 2022.
However, counting within the Poms’ favour is the actual fact Australia has not received an Ashes sequence on English soil since 2001.
It is a streak Smith and his teammates are out to snap, a lot in order that the celebrity batsman will play county cricket to organize himself in the easiest way attainable.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Smith is in “advanced negotiations” to signal with Sussex, who boast star English bowlers Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer of their ranks.
The report additionally notes Smith is in negotiations with a number of different county groups, however nothing has been finalised.
Smith advised The Herald he may match “three or four” county video games earlier than linking again up with the Australian Test squad forward of a probable look within the Test Championship last which takes place in June.
The 33-year-old wouldn’t be the primary Aussie to signify Sussex in county cricket, with fellow Test stars Alex Carey and Travis Head simply two of a number of others to have performed for the group.
The news of Smith enjoying within the English home set-up wasn’t precisely music to skipper Ben Stokes’ ears.
“I guess it’s good for the county game to see players of Steve’s calibre want to come over and play,” Stokes advised reporters in December.
“But I don’t know. I think it’s one of those where you’d probably prefer them not to get any game time out here before the Ashes.
“But at the same time, it is what it is.”
Originally printed as Smith set for main career-first that can ship Ashes chills down English spines
