Australia batter Steve Smith has cast doubt over playing in the 2027 Ashes in England, saying he is taking his Test career series by series while targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and continuing to build his T20 cricket career.
Australia batting star Steve Smith has raised uncertainty over his participation in the 2027 Ashes series in England, saying he is continuing to assess his Test career on a series-by-series basis while setting his sights on representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 37-year-old right-handed batter, one of Australia’s most accomplished Test cricketers, is currently playing for Amsterdam Flames in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Smith has featured in 125 Test matches for Australia, scoring 37 centuries, and remains among the leading batters in the world. He is currently ranked second in the men’s Test batting rankings behind England’s Harry Brook.
Smith admitted that he does not yet know whether he will be part of Australia’s Ashes campaign in England next year. The veteran batter said his approach to Test cricket has remained focused on assessing his availability and motivation one series at a time.
“I don’t even know if I’ll be there yet. I’m kind of a series-by-series proposition, as I’ve been for a while,” Smith told The Telegraph.
The Ashes remains a significant target for Smith, who expressed his desire to experience success in England again. However, he made it clear that the series is still some distance away in his planning and that no decision has been made about his participation.
Instead, Smith identified the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his immediate long-term ambition. Cricket is scheduled to return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles Games, with T20 cricket set to provide the format for the competition.
Smith explained that one reason for joining Amsterdam Flames was to continue playing regular T20 cricket. He believes maintaining his experience in the shortest format could help him remain competitive and potentially strengthen his chances of being involved in Australia’s Olympic campaign.
“Right now probably it’s just the Olympics to try to be a part of that,” Smith said. He added that continuing to play T20 cricket was one of the reasons behind his decision to feature in the European competition.
Although Smith has not announced a retirement date, his comments indicate that the final phase of his playing career could involve an increasing focus on franchise and T20 cricket. The former Australia captain said he still enjoys playing and believes he has time left in the game.
Smith has enjoyed an international career spanning around 15 years and has established himself as one of the defining Test batters of his generation. Despite his age, he remains highly ranked and continues to contribute at the highest level.
“I’ve achieved a lot in the game. It’s been a great ride for the last 15 years or thereabouts. I’ve had a lot of fun. I’m still enjoying it, so I don’t have an end date,” he said.
Before Australia begins planning in detail for the next Ashes, Smith is preparing for a major Test assignment against South Africa. Australia will travel to South Africa for a three-match Test series in October, marking Smith’s first Test tour of the country since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
The 2018 incident resulted in Smith receiving a 12-month ban from international cricket. However, the veteran batter said he views the upcoming series as another cricket assignment rather than an opportunity to revisit the controversy.
“For me, it’s just another series. All that happened a long time ago,” Smith said, pointing out that Australia have returned to South Africa for limited-overs cricket since the incident.
He also acknowledged the strength of the current South African side, particularly its fast-bowling attack. South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final, adding further significance to the upcoming three-Test contest.
Smith said the hosts have a strong pace attack and suggested that the series could provide a demanding challenge for Australia’s experienced batting line-up.
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With the South Africa series approaching, uncertainty surrounding the 2027 Ashes and the 2028 Olympics adds another dimension to Smith’s future. For now, the veteran batter appears determined to continue competing while keeping his options open across Test and T20 cricket.
