Steve Smith Focuses on Present Amid Future Test Tours
Steve Smith's Day-by-Day Approach
As speculation swirls regarding the future of his Test career, Australian cricket star Steve Smith, aged 36, has stated that he is concentrating on the present rather than looking ahead to potential tours in England and India in 2027. Smith emphasized his commitment to taking things 'day by day' as he prepares for the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa, set to take place at Lord's starting June 11.
Currently, Smith is riding a wave of impressive form in white-ball cricket, having scored four centuries in his last five Tests against India and Sri Lanka. His performance, including a pivotal 121-run innings alongside Travis Head, was crucial during the 2023 WTC final against India at The Oval.
Following the Champions Trophy, where he led his team to the semifinals with a notable 73 runs against India, Smith announced his retirement from ODIs in March, concluding his career with 5,800 runs in 170 matches, including 12 centuries and two World Cup victories.
Although he hasn't participated in T20 internationals since February 2024 and has been absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2021, Smith is making room for more T20 cricket. He is expected to play two matches for Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket (MLC) between the WTC final and Australia's first Test against the West Indies later in June. Additionally, he has expressed a desire to compete in the Olympics and secure a gold medal for Australia.
After the WTC final against South Africa, Smith's next major challenge will be the 2027 Ashes tour in England, coinciding with a five-Test series in India. 'I am definitely not looking that far ahead,' he remarked, as reported by a sports news outlet. 'I am kind of taking it day by day. While I am enjoying it, while I am batting nicely and feeling like I am contributing to the team, I am pretty happy. But that [2027] is a while away.'
Regarding whether this WTC final could be his last appearance in whites at Lord's, where he boasts an impressive average of 58.33, Smith shared, 'I think it is probably, outside of Sydney, my favourite ground to play at. The history, the surface itself. It always takes a few balls just to get used to that slope. One end, you feel like you are standing really tall, the other end, you feel like you are falling over a little bit. But the ball races away, both up the hill and down the hill.'
He also humorously noted, 'And then the lunch is fabulous. They always say it is a great place to miss out so you can enjoy your lunch. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the last few years I have done really well there, so I have not been able to cash in on that.'
Smith has had a successful run in England, amassing 2,255 runs in 22 Tests at an average of 55.00, including eight centuries and nine fifties, with a top score of 215. At Lord's, he has scored 525 runs in five Tests, featuring two centuries and two fifties across nine innings.
In total, Smith has played 116 Tests for Australia, accumulating 10,271 runs at an average of 56.74, with 36 centuries and 41 fifties, and a highest score of 239, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer for Australia in Test history.
Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia aims to defend the mace they won after defeating India in the last World Test Championship Final at The Oval in June 2023. Meanwhile, South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, is determined to claim their first ICC trophy in over twenty years.
Australia's squad includes Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, and Matt Kuhnemann, with Brendan Doggett as a traveling reserve.