Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith has opened up about his retirement ahead of the final Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against England, which is scheduled to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smith said he is fully committed to Test cricket and is not feeling any pressure to decide on his future right now.
After the Ashes series, Australia team will play a two-match home series against Bangladesh in August. The series will mark the beginning of 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 said he has no definite plans for the future and is taking his career forward “day by day, series by series”. Smith said he is still enjoying playing Test cricket, adding that he feels he is contributing to the team and having fun on the field.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing this weekend. I’ve said it for a while. I’m taking it day by day, series by series. We’ll see where things go,” Smith said during his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
He said, “I feel like I’m doing everything right at the moment. I’m enjoying it. I’m contributing and having fun. I believe there’s no real expiration date for me. I’m still playing. I’m enjoying it.”
I think we’ve got a really good team – Steve Smith
Steve Smith attributed 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 has reached two World Test Championship finals in recent years.
“I think we have a really good team,” he said. “The teams we have had over the last three or four years, which have obviously been to two World Test Championship finals, different people have stood up at different times. It has never been the job of one or two people. It has been shared.”
“Being an older player now, hopefully I can help some of the players coming up and help teach them the game of Test cricket. I think that’s my role now,” he said.
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 series in England in 2019 and 2023.
Australia aims to end the Ashes series by winning 4-1. They took a 3–1 lead with strong wins 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 win in Australia in 15 years. The match is over in less than two days and this has increased the pressure on Australia’s selection, with Cameron Green’s place now in question.
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