Steve Smith drops bombshell about his cricket future: The former captain has revealed that this series against South Africa could be his LAST as a Test player on Australian soil
- Steve Smith would not put a timeline on when he will retire from Test cricket
- He scored a classy 104 on the second day of the third Test against South Africa at the SCG
- Smith now sits in equal third place on the list of most Test centuries by an Australian
- Looted 30 tonnes, sitting behind Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32)
Steve Smith has admitted he is unsure how long he will play Test cricket and is set to take a tour-by-tour approach to his future.
Australia is bracing for a changing of the guard in the coming years, with opening batsmen Usman Khawaja and David Warner both entering the twilight of their careers at the age of 36 and Smith, 33, Not far.
Smith remained at the top of his game and scored 104 runs in the third Test against South Africa on day two at the SCG to move into equal third place on the list of most Test centuries by an Australian.
His booty is now at 30 tons, equal to Matt Hayden and only behind fellow greats Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32).
Earlier in the summer, Smith doubted whether he had enough time left in his career to surpass Ponting’s record, but at stumps on the second day against the Proteas, he went a step further.
Steve Smith admits he is not sure how long he will play Test cricket (pictured, after his century against South Africa at the SCG on Thursday)
Smith has plundered 30 tons for Australia at Test level, sitting just behind Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32)
When asked, Smith said he could not guarantee how many home Test summers he would play.
‘We will see. I’m enjoying it at the moment,’ Smith told reporters after Australia were 4-475 at stumps.
I can’t really say how long I will play. I’m not sure.
‘I’ll take it one step at a time, just enjoy it, enjoy training and try to get better as well. While I’m doing that, I’m having fun playing but I don’t know how long that will last.’
Using his experience to help his teammates remains a priority for Smith, especially as Australia prepare for tough tours of India and England between now and next summer.
‘For me, it’s about trying to get better and try to help some of the other batters coming through,’ he said.
Just try and give more knowledge on the conditions and ways to do it.
Smith told reporters he wanted to help ‘some of the other batters come through’ as Australia face a changing of the guard over the next few years
At 36, Usman Khawaja is also nearing the end of his Test career – and is also poised to score 200 against the Proteas in the Third Test
‘If I can say something and see that light bulb when someone finds out, I’m happy with that.’
Records fell for Smith on Thursday; his latest century is his fourth at the SCG meaning he trails only Ponting (six) in tons scored at the famous ground.
The century also helped him become the sixth man to score more than 1000 Test runs at the venue.
With another century, Smith would move past Matthew Hayden into third place on the list of hundreds scored by an Australian and be just a ton behind second-placed Steve Waugh (32).
‘I don’t play for that kind of stuff but it’s cool to look up and see my name amongst the great players,’ he said.
‘It’s pretty special.’
