Not many batters have left their mark on the modern Ashes rivalry like Steve Smith. He’s got a reputation for his eccentric batting style & an unquenchable thirst for runs – and he’s taken those talents to task against England bowlers in more then one Ashes series, & in all sorts of conditions whether its on English soil or in Australia.
With yet another Ashes series just around the corner – this time back here in Australia for the 2025-26 edition – the man who’s been dubbed the Australian run machine might well rack up even more runs and centuries to add to his impressive tally. Ahead of the Ashes series coming up in 2025-26 lets take a look at five of the biggest scores from Steve Smith’s Ashes career.
Steve Smith Best Innings in Ashes
5. 143, The Oval , 2015
In the final Test of the 2015 Ashes in England, then Aussies 3 man Steve Smith batted his way to his 11th Test century his 5th Ashes ton and his 2nd of the series by carelessly chipping away at 143 from 252 deliveries. Smith spent over six hours out in the middle at the Oval in London taking apart Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes & a bunch of other English bowlers with an innings that showed off his batting skill & mental toughness
Steve Smith’s century also set up Australia’s comprehensive win by an innings and 46 runs, which put them 2-3 in the five match series.
4. 144, Birmingham, 2019
Steve Smith finally made his long-awaited return to the Australian team, following the messy ball-tampering scandal, in style with a sublime 144 which shut up the critics and started the redemption arc all over again. Walking out to face the hostile English crowd in Birmingham, Smith showed his class by stroking 19 boundaries & 2 massive sixes in the 219 deliveries he faced in that innings.
With Australia a loooong way off – 90 runs behind at the halfway stage – Smith just took off in the second innings, belting 142 more to add up to a match total of 286 for Australia as they thrashed England by 251 runs to take an 1-0 lead in the series.
3. 211, Manchester, 2019
In the 4th test of the 2019 Ashes series in England, Smith drove 211 runs from 319 balls with 24 fours & 2 massive sixes against the likes of Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer & Ben Stokes in a Test that he and Australia would ultimately win by a handsome 185 runs.
After that he smashed a quick 82 from just 92 balls in the second innings to set up a huge 383 run target for the england side before fast bowler Pat Cummins just steamed in and took over the Aussie charge.
2. 215, Lord’s, 2015
Just a week after a pretty tough series in Cardiff, Steve Smith really redeemed himself with his first ever Test double hundred in the second Test of the 2015 Ashes at Lords in London. Batting at number 3 Smith scored an impressive 215 regal runs from 346 balls with 25 fours & a six – and just for good measure he even put together a 284 run 2nd partnership w/ fellow centurion Chris Rogers (173) as Australia plundered an impressive 556-8 decl.
He finished off with another 58, from just 48 balls as Australia chalked up a decent 254-2d in the second innings before their bowlers came out on top with a monstrous 405 run win over the visitors that levelled the series.
1. 239, Perth, 2017
Steve Smith took the game by the scruff of the neck with a 239 that was nothing short of dominating – he put the willies on England for over 399 balls, smashing 30 boundaries and a six in the third test of the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia. Batting at number four Smith – and incidentally leading the charge – had to do a lot with a tricky 403 from England’s first innings. Despite that he & the rest of the Aussie batsmen managed to get Australia to 662 for 9 declared at the WACA in Perth.
Its no surprise his 239 effort from late 2017 still holds the record for his highest test score – & that all the while he picked up the “Player of the match ” award after Australia wrapped up a 3-0 Ashes lead.
