Sydney: Australian batsman Steve Smith on Friday quashed talk of his retirement after suggesting it was by no means certain he would play Test cricket next season.
The 33-year-old former captain scored his 30th Test century on the second day of the third Test against South Africa on Thursday, moving past Donald Bradman in Australia’s list of century-scorers.
Acknowledging his comments at a news conference after the day’s play had been deliberately “undercover”, Smith said he had no immediate plans to hang up his bat.
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m happy with where everything is,” Smith told JEE News before the start of the third day of the final Test.
“We have some good tours coming up. I’m excited and I’m still trying to get better.
“So, while I have the hunger and eagerness to try and improve, and especially help some of the younger batsmen, while I’m doing all that, I’m enjoying myself and my retirement. There are no plans.”
Warner dropped a hint on a possible Test retirement date.
Last year, Australian batsman David Warner dropped a hint on his possible Test retirement date, saying he would call it quits after the Ashes next year.
“Test cricket will probably fall first,” said Warner on Triple M’s dead set legends. “Because that’s how it’s going to end. The T20 World Cup is in 2024, the (One Day) World Cup is next year. It’s probably going to be my last 12 months in Test cricket. But I love the white-ball game. Amazing.”
With a number of players expected to retire over the next 18 months, Australia are set to undergo their first significant changing of the guard since the 2015 Ashes.
By the end of the Ashes series in 2023, Warner and Usman Khawaja will be 36, Nathan Lyon 35, and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood 32. Smith, who will also be 33, is expected to last much longer.
However, the left-hander rejected suggestions that he should retire before the T20 World Cup 2024.
“T20 cricket – I love the game. I will try to make it to 2024. To all those who say I’m over it and many of these old guys are over it, look out. Be careful. Be what you want”. said.
