Steve Smith admits he “does not know” if he’ll play in next year’s Ashes series in England after dropping a major hint about his retirement from Test cricket. The Aussie great will turn 38 before the first Ashes Test gets underway at Trent Bridge next June, but says his biggest goal is to represent Australia in T20 cricket at the LA Olympic Games in 2028.
Smith has a remarkable Test record in England, where he has notched eight tons and 10 half-centuries, scoring 2,334 runs at an average of 54.27 across 23 Tests. But despite dominating the last two series in England, Smith is yet to win an overseas Ashes series and told the UK’s Telegraph that he is no certainty to feature against the old enemy next year.
Steve Smith has dropped a hint about his retirement from Test cricket after admitting he might not play in next year’s Ashes series in England. Pic: Getty
“I don’t even know if I’ll be there yet. I’m kind of a series-by-series proposition, as I’ve been for a while,” Smith said. “That’s still a fair way away for me right now. I’d love to win [an Ashes in England] but you wait and see if that comes to fruition.”
The 37-year-old was speaking ahead of Australia’s red-ball series against the Proteas starting next month, where Smith will play his first Test series in South Africa since the infamous ‘sandpapergate’ scandal in 2018. It continues a jam-packed Test schedule for Smith and the Aussies, who play New Zealand, India and a 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG all within the next six months.
Aussie cricket great Steve Smith says he’s not sure if he’ll play in next year’s Ashes Test series against England. Pic: Getty
Steve Smith wants to play for Australia at 2028 Olympics
But Smith says his biggest goal is to make the Australian team for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. And the desire to prolong his career in T20 cricket could force the 37-year-old to make a big decision around his Test future, having hinted at retirement in the past.
“Right now probably it’s just the Olympics to try to be a part of that,” Smith added. “I still like to think I could play T20 cricket for a while. What’s next for me when I finish? I’m not sure, but yeah, hopefully a bit more time left playing.”
Smith hasn’t played a T20 international for Australia since February 2024 but has resurrected his career in the shortest format in recent years. He’s contracted to the Sydney Sixers in the BBL and is playing in the European T20 league with the Amsterdam Flames franchise co-founded by Steve Waugh. Smith also plays for Washington Freedom in the USA’s Major League Cricket and Sialkot Stallionz in the Pakistan Super League.
with agencies