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Stuart Broad has confessed that he hasn't figured out an effective strategy to get out Steve Smith and warns that the Ashes could become an extended struggle if the English team doesn't get the batter during the initial stages.

Smith's Dominant Record

The 36-year-old batsman, who is considered a top-tier contemporary cricketers, holds an outstanding average of over 56 in Ashes cricket with 12 tons to his name.

Smith, who has participated in every Ashes series since the 2010-11 season, dominated the batting charts during both the 2017-18 and 2019 matches, registering 774 and 687 runs respectively while the English bowler was playing for England.

The Bowler's Challenge

"I recall when he scored that substantial innings in Perth during 2017 and I failed to miss the middle of his bat for three consecutive days," Broad commented on a cricket podcast.

"Every delivery I aimed simply found perfectly with his bat."

"Smith has developed that unique mentality of the conditions favor me, and I won't be dismissed."

Statistical Superiority

Broad got the better of the batsman on 11 occasions in international tests - surpassing other bowlers - yet reveals he remains unaware of an effective strategy.

His overall batting average of just over 56 climbs to 59.70 when batting in Australia. Just the iconic Ricky Ponting with 41 hundreds has achieved greater numbers than his 36 test centuries for the Australian team.

Technical Challenges

The bowler explained: "Naturally his technique has evolved over time, but I continue to struggle to confidently state this approach works to dismiss him."

"It shows a remarkable quality of his. He's exceptionally difficult to confront. Sometimes it appears that you haven't bowled a bad delivery and it still goes for a boundary."

Current Performance and Readiness

His output experienced a slight decline between mid-2023 to late 2024 when he experienced 23 batting opportunities unable to make a ton, but he bounced back with two centuries against the Indian team recently and made 131 and 141 runs against the Sri Lankan team at the start of this year.

Following an eight-week rest, he commenced his preparation for the upcoming series in the end of October and promptly made 118 runs in his comeback match.

Winning Approach

"For series victory, we need to restrict his scoring to under 50, isn't that true?" the bowler asked.

"He's going to make a ton, it's his specialty."

"Assuming he scores 40 runs, that represents at least 15 under his lifetime figure, so you're doing brilliantly. I think it's crucial to dismiss him during the initial stages."

"Should the English team fail to achieve getting him out within his first 40 runs, it promises to be an extended contest."

Changing Strategies

England has tried multiple strategies to counter Smith's unconventional approach throughout a decade and a half of Ashes contests.

Broad discussed perfecting an outward-moving delivery aimed at Smith before the 2023 series, while English bowlers have aimed at Smith's leg-side, delivered outside from off stump and even attempted for catches at leg gully during that year's matches - a contest where Smith started with back-to-back hundreds at the Birmingham ground.

Key Memories

"I remember when Jason Roy was placed at that specific fielding spot, and he repeatedly dove left and right for the opening overs, just missing him repeatedly," Broad recalled.

"Smith got away, made two hundreds in that contest, extraordinary batting."

Broad added: "I remember attending a planning discussion about Steve Smith in that season and the coaches proposed perhaps we should attempt attacking his stumps early'}."

"Is that so, can we check the number of occasions he's lost his wickets in Australia during recent years?' A single instance."

Archer's Potential Impact

The upcoming series, which starts in Friday in Perth (02:30 GMT), appears likely to feature Smith batting against the English fast bowler for the first test matchup since the previous encounter, when he experienced difficulties and faced a rising delivery during Archer's aggressive bowling at that famous venue.

Smith regularly mentions that the bowler didn't get him in that particular Test - he temporarily retired and got out later leg before wicket to Woakes upon resuming his innings - though the bowler succeeded to dismiss him on a hook shot in a one-day international during the previous season.

"Can Jofra Archer be that solution?" the bowler questioned. "Getting him to edge from short of good length, just chasing it."

"Given that the bowler possesses that angle of curving into the stumps, is he able to bowl a ball leaving the bat? The batsman expects the inward movement."