Australia stand-in skipper Steve Smith has opened up about his retirement ahead of the final Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against England, which is set to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smith said he remains fully committed to Test cricket and feels no pressure to decide his future right now.
Following the Ashes series, the Australia team will play a two-match home series against Bangladesh in August. This series will kick off the busiest 12-month period in Australia’s Test history. The team will tour India in January and February, followed by the historic 150th anniversary Test against England in March.
I’m Taking It Day by Day – Steve Smith
Speaking ahead of the Sydney Test, Steve Smith stated that he has no fixed plans for the future and is taking his career “day by day, series by series.” Smith said that he is still enjoying playing Test cricket, adding that he feels he is contributing to the team and having fun on the field.
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“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing at the end of this week. I’ve said it for a while. I’m taking it day by day, series by series. We’ll see where things land,” Smith said during the pre-match press conference on Saturday.
“I feel like I’m doing all right at the moment. I’m enjoying it. I’m contributing and having fun. There’s no real end date for me, I suppose. I’m still playing. I’m enjoying it,” he added.
I Think We’ve Got A Really Good Team – Steve Smith
Steve Smith credited Australia’s recent Test success to teamwork rather than individual performances. He pointed out that different players have stepped up at different times as the team reached two World Test Championship finals in recent years.
“I think we’ve got a really good team,” he said. “The team we’ve had over the last three or four years, obviously making two World Test Championship finals, different people have stood up at different times. It’s never been one or two people just getting the job done. It’s been shared across.”
“As an older player now, hopefully I can help some of the players coming through and help teach them the game of Test cricket. I guess that’s my role now,” he added.
Steve Smith’s Form and Selection Questions
Steve Smith averaged over 70 between 2014 and 2019. However, his impact has not been as strong in recent years, leading to some discussion about his future. Smith has never won an Ashes series away from home, although Australia managed to draw the series in England in 2019 and 2023.
Australia are aiming to finish the Ashes with a 4-1 series win. They built a 3-1 lead with strong victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, but suffered a setback in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
England won the Melbourne Test by four wickets, their first Test victory in Australia in 15 years. The match ended in under two days and has increased pressure on Australia’s selection, with Cameron Green’s place now in question.
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