Steve Smith has admitted he is uncertain about whether he will still be playing Test cricket when Australia travels to England for the 2027 Ashes. The former Australian captain has not ruled out retiring from the longest format before then, although he remains keen to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Australia retained the Ashes after consecutive 2-2 series draws in 2019 and 2023. However, the Aussies have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001. Smith would love to be part of an Australian side that finally ends that long wait, but he knows his own future in Test cricket remains unclear.
“I don’t even know if I’ll be there yet,” Steve Smith told The Telegraph. “I’m kind of a series-by-series proposition, as I’ve been for a while, and that’s still a fair way away for me right now. So, yeah, I’d love to win one there or to have won one there, but you wait and see if that comes to fruition.”
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Steve Smith has enjoyed remarkable longevity in international cricket and has generally remained fit throughout his career. However, the demands of Test cricket, particularly at the age of 37 and beyond, could eventually influence his decision on how long he wants to continue.
While his Test future is uncertain, Smith has a clear target in mind. Cricket will return to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, 128 years after its previous appearance. The tournament will feature T20 competitions for both men and women, and Smith hopes to remain available for selection.
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Australian batting great Steve Smith has hinted that he could retire from Test cricket before the 2027 Ashes in England. 👀#SteveSmithRetirement #TestCricket #AustralianCricket #CricketNews #ICECricNews pic.twitter.com/Ip4Ismzq9y
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“Right now probably it’s just the Olympics to try to be a part of that,” Steve Smith said. His involvement in T20 cricket in Europe is also helping him stay prepared for that possibility. At the same time, Smith believes the experience gives him an opportunity to contribute to younger cricketers and players from associate nations.
Smith has currently made 125 Test appearances and scored 37 centuries at an outstanding average of 54. Despite having no fixed retirement date, he expects his playing career to continue in some form after Test cricket eventually comes to an end.
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“I still like to think I could play T20 cricket for a while,” he said. Steve Smith added that he is unsure what life after cricket will look like, but insists he is still enjoying the game after around 15 years at the highest level. For now, there appears to be no immediate retirement plan, with the veteran preferring to take his career series by series.
