Last Updated:
Jamie Smith views missing IPL as a chance to focus on red-ball cricket before the New Zealand Tests. After a tough Ashes, he aims to improve at Surrey and regain England selection.
Jamie Smith with his England teammates (PTI)
England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith thinks not securing a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 may turn out to be a hidden benefit, allowing him valuable time at home for red-ball cricket preparation before the Test series against New Zealand in June.
Smith struggled during the Ashes series, scoring just 211 runs and achieving only one half-century across five Tests, as Australia triumphed 4-1. After remaining unsold in last year’s IPL auction, he was subsequently omitted from England’s white-ball squads for their tours to Sri Lanka and the Men’s T20 World Cup.
“At the time, I would have definitely liked to have gone (to the IPL). It’s an ambition of mine to strengthen all sides of my game, and I see the IPL as something that can really enhance the white-ball side and does have benefits for the red-ball (game).
“But in hindsight, yeah, it’s fantastic to come here and have a block of red-ball (cricket) behind me. I felt that towards the back end of the summer and into the winter, technically, I felt a little bit out of kilter.
“It’s been nice to come here (The Oval) and work on a couple of things, and then I’ll be able to hopefully implement them, for six or seven (County Championship) games, and we’ll see where we get to if there’s any England stuff after that. But, yeah, it’s nice to have a little block to try and get things right,” Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Reassessing After Poor Ashes
Smith’s Ashes tour of Australia was challenging. He missed a straightforward catch off Travis Head at the Gabba, contributing to a heavy defeat, and faced criticism for getting out to a Marnus Labuschagne bouncer in Sydney, a shot considered one of the series’ more regrettable dismissals.
Reflecting on the experience, he was honest but not overly self-critical, noting the cumulative toll of consecutive long Test series. “Mistakes are going to happen. The India series was physically and mentally very tough. It was my first five-Test series.
“Also, we were out in the field for 22 out of 25 days or something stupid, and all the Tests lasted (five days). By the end, it was just actual exhaustion: I was just knackered physically and mentally from all that had gone. From there, the learning was how to make sure that from the first to the last game, your standards are still as high as possible?
“It was similar in Australia, to be honest. I know a few of the games didn’t last as long as people were expecting or wanting, but again, I don’t feel like my standards were down too much,” he added.
Smith acknowledged his personal performance was below expectations while crediting Australia for their strong display. “It was tough. You go on a tour like that with high expectations of trying to do as well as you can, and it didn’t pan out that way.
“Obviously, I would have loved to have put some more returns there across five games for us to win a few more games, but the reality is that didn’t happen, and I didn’t play as well as I wanted to or was required for the team. It’s obviously disappointing, but you can take that as a learning experience.
“You are playing against a world-class team as well, and I think sometimes that gets lost a little bit, how good the opposition is. It’s learning, but I’m coming into (the season) fresh, and I love being back at Surrey and playing here,” he concluded.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 18, 2026, 20:34 IST
Read More
