Steve Smith Says No Retirement Timeline as Australia Prepare for Final Ashes Test

SYDNEY: Australia captain Steve Smith has said he has no fixed timeline for retirement, stating he is still enjoying his cricket as his team prepares for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England in Sydney.

Speaking on Saturday, the 36-year-old said he is taking his career “day by day” and “series by series,” keeping England guessing about Australia’s final team combination. With Usman Khawaja retiring after the Sydney Test and Nathan Lyon sidelined through injury, Smith will be the most experienced player in the squad alongside Scott Boland.

Asked whether he could still be playing in the next Ashes series in England in 2027, Smith remained non-committal but made it clear he has no immediate plans to step away. “I’m enjoying it, I’m contributing and having fun. So there’s no real end date for me,” he said, adding that it would not be ideal for both him and Khawaja to leave at the same time.

Smith also paid tribute to Khawaja, who announced his retirement at the age of 39, ending a Test career that began at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2011 against England. While Smith declined to comment on Khawaja’s claims of racial stereotyping, he defended his teammate’s professionalism, saying criticism over his injury before the Perth Test was unfair.

Read more:Australia’s Khawaja Retires from Test Cricket, Aims to Inspire Others

On team selection for the Sydney Test, Smith said all options remain open, including playing extra all-rounders or a spinner, depending on pitch conditions.

Australia lead the five-match series 3-1 after securing the Ashes with victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. England claimed a consolation win in Melbourne, their first Test victory in Australia in 15 years.

Despite already retaining the Ashes, Smith said motivation remains high due to World Test Championship points. “Every game is important. We want to finish strong, win the series 4-1 and keep building momentum in the championship cycle,” he said.