Steve Smith has put to rest any speculation about his retirement from the international stage, expressing a strong desire to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Since the T20 format will be featured at the LA games, Smith told ESPNCricinfo that he isn't planning to quit anytime soon. He shared that he is currently feeling relaxed and is excited about the challenges of the coming summer.
Australian star batter Steve Smith has denied plans to retire from international cricket, saying he hopes to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as well. Cricket will return to the fold in its shortest format, that is the T20s, at the LA 2028 games. I don’t have any plans, he was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. I’m just enjoying playing at the moment, I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to this summer, Smith added.
The right-handed veteran is well aware that competing in the Olympics will demand hard work. He was left out of the Australian squad for the recent 2024 T20 World Cup, where the team struggled under Mitchell Marsh's leadership and failed to reach the semifinal round.
On a more positive note, Smith has committed to the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League with a new three-year contract, ensuring he stays competitive in T20s through 2027. His current form is peaking, particularly in the shortest format, as evidenced by his successful stint as captain of the Washington Freedom during their 2024 MLC championship run.
Smith believes he could easily still be playing T20s in four years, noting that the rise of global franchise leagues makes the format more sustainable for him than others. With his current BBL contract covering most of that period, the prospect of Olympic participation is a goal he finds genuinely exciting.
At the same time, Smith's specific role in the Test batting lineup is still a point of discussion. Following David Warner's departure, Smith stepped up as an opener against New Zealand and the West Indies, accumulating 171 runs across eight innings, including a resilient unbeaten 91 at the Gabba, though it didn't lead to a victory.
Smith is set to return to the international scene for the ODI series against England, and will later feature in the home Test series against India for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The experienced batter is flexible regarding his position in the order, stating that he will head to England for the one-dayers first before finalizing his long-term role.
He noted that internal discussions are ongoing, mentioning that teammates like Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja prefer seeing him at number four. Smith concluded by saying he is perfectly happy to slot in wherever the team needs him most.