To win an away Ashes would be every England player's dream

The big interview Jamie Smith England's wicketkeeper-batter on the innings that changed his career, his admiration for Kevin Pietersen and his ambitions for a big year

- Donald McRae

When the pressure's on," Jamie Smith says intently on an otherwise languid morning at the Oval, "it definitely gives you more of a focus. You can't get away from the fact that, when the game is on the line, you want to be the one that takes it on and wins it. Look at some of the best players that have played the game - and the impact they've had in situations where they've been needed the most.

"Look at Stokesy [Ben Stokes, his England captain] and some of the innings he's played where he's rescued the side from defeat or led them to victory. They're the things that get remembered. So it would be nice to be the sort of player that can do similar."

Smith has played only nine Tests so far, as England's wicketkeeper-batter who does not even stand behind the stumps for Surrey, but his impact has been so impressive with the bat and reassuring with the gloves that it prompts a simple question: whether the 24-year-old believes he can become that player who makes a regular difference.

"Definitely," Smith says, maintaining eye-contact with quiet authority. "If you don't have that belief there's no point putting yourself through some of the stuff you have to as a cricketer. When you have a good day you want it to be a memorable day where you've put the side in a position to win. You've got to have that optimism that you can be the one that, on a given day, can win the game."

Smith's conviction will be tested like never before over the coming seven months. After next week's four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, England face successive five-match series against India, the world's best team, and then in the cauldron of the Ashes in Australia.

A year ago he was thought by many to be just another county hopeful. But in early 2023 Smith played a breakthrough innings on a turning wicket in Sri Lanka, when he crafted and then blasted a 71-ball century for England Lions.