Two-time ODI World Cup winner Steve Smith has decided to step away from one-day internationals, believing it’s the right time for Australia to begin preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
“Now is the perfect time to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, and I feel my time has come to step aside,” Smith said.
Following Australia’s semi-final loss in the Champions Trophy, the 35-year-old made the big call to retire from ODIs. In the dressing room after the defeat in Dubai, he informed his teammates of his decision.
Although he could have been part of the 2027 World Cup campaign, Smith doesn’t see himself in that journey. Instead, he wants to create space for the next generation to build towards the tournament.
“It has been an incredible journey, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. So many amazing memories! Winning two World Cups with an incredible group of teammates was truly special,” he said.
Smith’s legacy in Test cricket often overshadows his ODI career, but his numbers in the 50-over format remain impressive. He played 170 ODIs, scoring 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28 and a strike rate of nearly 87. He registered 12 centuries and 35 fifties, with a career-best knock of 164.
Among Australian players, only five have scored more ODI centuries than Smith. Among them, only David Warner (45.30) has a better career average than him.
Smith made his ODI debut in February 2010 against the West Indies in Melbourne as a spin-bowling all-rounder, batting in the lower middle order. He didn’t get to bat in his first match, but his journey in the format finally came to an end in Dubai, with a solid 73-run knock in the Champions Trophy semi-final marking his last ODI innings.
His most cherished achievements remain his two World Cup victories. He played a crucial role in Australia’s 2015 World Cup triumph on home soil, scoring 402 runs in seven innings at an average of 67 and a strike rate of 91.57. He notched a century and four fifties, including a match-winning 105 off 93 balls against India in the semi-final. In the final against New Zealand, he hit the winning boundary, remaining unbeaten with a half-century.
His 2023 World Cup campaign wasn’t as prolific, with 302 runs at an average of 33.55 across 10 matches. However, as a key member of the leadership group, he played a vital role in Australia’s title-winning run.
Smith was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year in 2015 and won Australia’s ODI Player of the Year award twice.
In recent years, his ODI performances have been inconsistent. He last scored a century in 2022 and has gone 33 innings without another. Since the 2023 World Cup, he has managed just three fifties in 15 innings.
With all things considered, he no longer envisions himself playing in the next World Cup, set to take place in two and a half years.
Smith has also been out of Australia’s T20I setup since being dropped from the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, he hasn’t retired from the format, even expressing his desire to compete in the 2028 Olympics, where cricket will be played in the T20 format.
Meanwhile, his Test career remains as strong as ever. He has hit four centuries in his last five Test matches and is still regarded as one of the best in the longest format.
“Test cricket remains my biggest priority. I’m looking forward to playing in the Test Championship final, the West Indies tour, and then the home series against England. I believe I still have a lot more to contribute in this format,” he stated.
