AUSSIES CAN COUNT ON IT

Perfect Ashes tune up for Smith & Co

- GARY FITZGERALD

NICK COMPTON fears England's Ashes hopes could be damaged by Steve Smith and other top Aussie stars using county cricket as "just a pre-Ashes net".

The former Test star feels that while it may be a "good PR stunt" to get superstar Smith on board on a short-term contract, Sussex will be aiding and abetting one of the world's most prolific batters to be in red-hot form by the time he faces Ben Stokes and Co.

Smith is set to play three Championship games in May as their marquee signing - a player who smashed a staggering 774 Test runs against England on these shores four years ago.

Smith, 33, sees it as a golden opportunity to acclimatise to English conditions in the run-up to the World Test Final at The Oval, followed shortly after by the opening Ashes clash at Edgbaston.