Steve Smith has moved quickly to end talk of an imminent retirement, insisting he remains fully committed to Test cricket ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 4. Australia’s stand-in captain admitted recent years had not quite lived up to the extraordinary standards he set earlier in his career, but stressed speculation about his future was premature. Smith’s peak years saw him dominate red-ball cricket, averaging over 70 over several seasons between 2014 and 2019. While his numbers since then have remained strong – averaging over 50 in 2021, 2022 and 2025 – the lack of sustained, match-defining spells has sparked outside discussion about his longevity. Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Sydney, Smith made it clear that he does not have a fixed timetable in mind and is only focused on the present.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing at the end of this week. I’ve been saying it for a while. I’m taking it day by day, series by series. We’ll see where things land,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m doing well right now. I’m enjoying it. I’m contributing and having fun. There’s not really an end date for me, I guess. I’m still playing. I’m enjoying it.” Smith also reflected on Australia’s recent success in Test cricket, emphasizing the team’s collective strength rather than reliance on individual brilliance. Australia have reached two World Test Championship finals in recent years, a run which Smith says highlights the depth and balance within the team. “I think we have a very good team,” he said. “The team we’ve had over the last three or four years, which obviously reached two World Test Championship finals, different people stood up at different times. There was never one or two people who did the work. This was shared everywhere. As one of the most important figures in the locker room, Smith sees his role evolving beyond just running. “As an older player now, I hope I can help some of the players progress and teach them the game of Test cricket. I guess that’s my role now,” he added. For now, Smith remains firmly focused on the SCG and the task at hand, with retirement a conversation he is in no rush to have.
