The Ashes: Steve Smith not thinking about retirement as Australia face England in final Test of series in Sydney
Australia’s Steve Smith says he has no plans to follow team-mate Usman Khawaja into international retirement, increasing the prospect of one last Ashes trip to England.
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Smith, speaking ahead of the final Test of this winter’s series in Sydney from Sunday, will be 38 when the Baggy Greens tour England in the summer of 2027.
The batter has never won an Ashes series overseas, although has drawn the previous two, in 2019 and 2023.
Smith told reporters at the SCG, as 39-year-old Khawaja bows out where he played his first Test in 2011: “With Usman dropping off now, that’s one of our experienced players and it probably wouldn’t be ideal if he and I both went out this week, for instance.
Steve Smith is not thinking about retirement as he aims to captain Australia to a 4-1 Ashes series win over England
“It’s a shame he’s gone, now I’m the oldest one here. I want to keep playing, I’m still enjoying it. We’ve got a really good team.
“I’ve said for a while I’m taking it day by day, series by series and we’ll see where things land.
“I feel like I’m doing alright at the moment, I’m contributing and having fun so there’s no real end date for me, I suppose.”
Smith will captain Australia once again in Sydney, deputising for the rested Pat Cummins.
Smith: Khawaja has had a wonderful career
On Khawaja, who has scored 6,206 runs in 87 Tests with 16 hundreds, Smith added: “He’s had a wonderful career [and] we knew he was such a talent from a young age.
“I remember playing against him in a couple of U17 versus U19 games for New South Wales and watching him bat.
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Khawaja called out a culture of ‘racial stereotypes’ as he announced his retirement from Test cricket
“The way he pulled the ball, I thought, ‘this guy picks length up quicker than anyone I’ve seen’. I feel throughout his career he’s been batting his best when he’s been doing that.
“His progression over a long period of time has been outstanding.
“The way he’s been able to play over his 15-year career, it’s credit to him. Not too many people get to go out on their own terms so he should be pretty pleased.”
Bondi heroes to be celebrated as police presence heightened
Cricket Australia (CA) has announced it will recognise the bravery of first responders and community members who reacted to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in December.
A moment of silence was held ahead of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide to pay tribute to victims of the Bondi Beach attack
An on-field guard of honour and a round of applause will take place for emergency service workers and those who reacted at the scene of the antisemitic shootings.
Police in New South Wales also said staffing would be bolstered during the Sydney Test match.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said: “We are pleased we can use cricket’s vast reach to publicly recognise these wonderful organisations and heroic individuals at the SCG, as we stood with the Jewish community in Adelaide.
“Our thoughts remain with those effected by this devastating tragedy and as a sport we will continue to provide what support we can.”
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