The English bowler competed against the Australian batsman in 32 contests and managed to dismiss him on 11 occasions.
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The veteran bowler admitted that he still lacks a reliable method to get out Steve Smith and warns that the historic series could become a drawn-out contest if the English team doesn't get Smith quickly.
Smith's Dominant Record
Steve Smith, recognized as one of the finest contemporary cricketers, holds an outstanding average of 56.01 in the Ashes series with 12 hundred-run innings to his name.
Smith, who has participated in each England-Australia encounter since the 2010-11 season, dominated the batting charts during both the 2017-18 and 2019 matches, scoring substantial run tallies while the English bowler was in the national team.
The Bowler's Challenge
"I remember clearly when he compiled that massive double century in Perth during 2017 and I couldn't avoid the sweet spot for the full duration," Broad shared on an interview.
"Each ball I aimed simply found the center of his blade."
"He maintains that specific approach of 'this pitch suits me, and I won't be dismissed."
Statistical Superiority
The English bowler succeeded in removing Smith 11 times in Test matches - exceeding by three any other bowler - yet confesses he still doesn't know a consistent weakness.
His overall batting average of just over 56 increases to 59.70 when on home soil. Just the iconic Ricky Ponting with 41 centuries has achieved greater numbers than 36 hundred-run innings for Australia.
Bowling Difficulties
The bowler explained: "Obviously his technique has evolved over time, but I still cannot confidently state this approach works to get him out."
"It shows an incredible strength of his. He's incredibly challenging to bowl against. At times you feel like you haven't delivered a bad delivery and it still goes for four runs."
Recent Form and Preparation
The batsman's form showed some reduction between mid-2023 to late 2024 when he experienced 23 innings failing to score a hundred, but he bounced back with two centuries against the Indian team recently and made 141 and 131 against the Sri Lankan team at early 2025.
Following a 60-day pause, he began his buildup for the England-Australia contest in October's final weeks and immediately scored 118 runs in his initial outing.
Winning Approach
"To emerge triumphant, it's essential to limit his average to under 50, correct?" Broad questioned.
"He will score a century, it's his trademark."
"If he averages 40 runs, that would be at least 15 under his lifetime figure, so your strategy is working. I believe you must remove him during the initial stages."
"If England aren't celebrating his dismissal within the first forty scoring shots, it will become a long series."
Changing Strategies
England has tried various plans to combat Smith's unique technique over 14 Ashes series matches.
Broad revealed developing a new outswinger specifically for Smith before the 2023 series, while England has targeted his pads, bowled wide from the off-side and tried bowling for catches at leg gully during 2019 - matches in which the batsman commenced with back-to-back hundreds at Edgbaston.
Unforgettable Instances
"I remember when Jason Roy was fielding at that close leg-side position, and he kept diving left and right for the opening overs, barely failing to catch repeatedly," Broad recalled.
"Smith got away, made two hundreds in that contest, remarkable performances."
The bowler continued: "I remember attending a planning discussion about Steve Smith in 2017-18 and someone mentioned perhaps we should attempt targeting his wickets early'}."
"Is that so, can we check the number of occasions he's lost his wickets in home matches during recent years?' Only one time."
Archer's Potential Impact
The next encounter, beginning in Friday in Perth (early morning GMT), seems set to include Smith facing Jofra Archer for the first time in Tests since that year, when he was notably unsettled and struck by a bouncer during the England paceman's fierce spell at the London ground.
The batsman has always pointed out that Archer failed to remove him in that game - he temporarily retired and was eventually out leg before wicket to Woakes upon coming back - though Archer eventually got to get him out on a hook shot in a one-day international during last year.
"Could the fast bowler be that solution?" the bowler questioned. "Making him nick from short of good length, following the delivery."
"Because Jofra Archer maintains that line of moving inward toward the target, can he deliver a ball leaving the bat? Smith looks for the inward movement."
