Steven Smith opens up on 'special' 100th Test, Ashes bucket list and Stokes' staggering script at Headingley

It's been more than two decades since Australia last won an Ashes series on English soil. In 2023, the Pat Cummins-led side is on the verge of achieving greatness as they are currently 2-0 up in the ongoing five-match series. Speaking about the same, star Australia batter Steve Smith stated that it was always his dream to win an Ashes series away from home. Notably, the legendary cricketer will also play his 100th Test match at Headingley, and thus, the 34-year-old wants to seal that with a fantastic win.

Notably, in the 2019 edition of the marquee series, Ben Stokes pulled off a heist, helping England win from a very tight spot along with England's No.11 Jack Leach. The current Three Lions skipper built a 76-run partnership to help the home team win by one wicket. Talking about the same, Smith stated that he didn’t enjoy Stokes’ innings at all as the cricketer was helpless since he was sitting out with a concussion injury.

“I didn’t enjoy that at all. Just sitting and watching the Ben Stokes show, that almost occurred again in this game. To be able to walk out at Headingley, it will be a great moment for me to tick off 100 games,” Smith was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Not too many people have done that in the Australian set-up. There have only been 15 or 16. To tick off that number is pretty special. It is something that has been on my bucket list, to win an Ashes series in England. What a way to top it off, if I could do it in my 100th game, it would be special for sure,” he added.

Meanwhile, Smith has been brilliant with the bat in the ongoing series. In the second Test, the legendary batter hit a phenomenal century which helped the visiting team post 416 runs in the first innings. Even in the second innings, the cricketer was looking in good touch as Australia won the match by 43 runs.