Steven Smith Retires from ODIs, Focuses on Tests
Steven Smith has officially retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket after Australia’s semi-final loss to India in the Champions Trophy. However, he will continue playing Test matches and remains open to T20I opportunities.
Smith, 35, announced his decision to his teammates after the loss in Dubai, confirming that he had played his last ODI match. This means he will not be part of Australia’s squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, even though he recently captained the team in the Champions Trophy due to Pat Cummins’ absence.
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A Remarkable ODI Career
Reflecting on his career, Smith expressed gratitude for the experiences and achievements he had in ODIs.
> “It has been a great journey, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. Winning two World Cups was a highlight, along with the incredible teammates I played with,” he said.
He also mentioned that stepping away now gives younger players a chance to prepare for the next World Cup.
Despite retiring from ODIs, Smith remains focused on Test cricket. He is looking forward to major upcoming events, including the World Test Championship final, the West Indies tour, and the Ashes series against England at home. He believes he still has much to contribute in Test cricket.
Future in Cricket
Smith has always taken his international career one series at a time. While he has confirmed his availability for the upcoming home summer, his long-term plans remain uncertain. There are major overseas Test series against India and England in 2027, which could influence his decision to continue.
Although he is currently not in Australia’s T20I plans—having been left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad—Smith has expressed interest in playing for Australia at the 2028 Olympics, where cricket will be part of the games. If selected, he remains available for T20Is.
One of Australia’s Best ODI Batters
Smith retires as one of Australia’s top ODI batters. While he is 12th on the country’s all-time run-scorers list, only five Australian players have scored more centuries than him. Among those, only David Warner has a higher batting average.
Smith played a key role in Australia’s 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup victories. During the 2015 tournament, he scored five consecutive 50-plus scores, including 105 in the semi-final against India and 56 not out in the final against New Zealand, where he hit the winning runs.
His performances earned him a place in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year in 2015. He was also named Australia’s ODI Player of the Year twice—first in 2014-15 and again in 2020-21, when he delivered back-to-back 62-ball centuries against India at the SCG.
As captain, Smith led Australia in 64 ODIs between 2015 and 2025. Only a few players—Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, and Michael Clarke—have captained Australia in more ODIs. However, Smith was the only one among them who never led Australia in a World Cup.
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Tributes and Future Plans
Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey, praised Smith’s contribution to ODI cricket, calling him one of the greatest Australian players in the format.
> “Steve’s batting record is outstanding, and winning two World Cups cements his legacy. He remains an important player in our Test team,” Bailey said.
Cricket Australia’s chief executive, Todd Greenberg, also acknowledged Smith’s remarkable 16-year ODI career.
With his ODI retirement, Smith is now free to play more franchise cricket. He has already committed to playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred during Australia’s next scheduled ODI series against South Africa in August.
Although his ODI journey has ended, Smith’s cricket career is far from over as he continues to focus on Test matches and potential future T20I opportunities.
