Final frontier: Smith and ageing Test team vow to complete unfinished business away from home

July 21, 2026 — 3:54pm

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Much as the 2005 Ashes defeat kept their legendary forebears together until a blazing 5-0 revenge mission two years later, Steve Smith and his ageing teammates have committed to making collective amends for fumbled trips to India and England in 2023.

That much was clear when selection chair George Bailey formally unveiled the squad for two Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay next month, with only one player – all-rounder Cameron Green, 27 – under the age of 30.

Games against a Bangladesh side that just lost a Test match by an innings to Zimbabwe would appear the ideal time to choose some more youthful players. But Bailey made it clear that this was more like a roll call of Australia’s frontline men for difficult tours to India (no Australian series wins since 2004), England (none since 2001) and South Africa (none since 2014).

This quest is personified by Smith, who clearly wants to cap his international career by breaking the aforementioned droughts, including by continuing to substitute for captain Pat Cummins whenever required. Shane Warne, Glenn........

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