NEW DELHI: Australian batsman Steve Smith, who just inked a long-term contract to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) with the Sydney Sixers, says he has no plans to retire from cricket.
After signing a three-year deal with the Sixers, the 35-year-old may play four BBL matches at home in the summer in between the final Test match against India and the Sri Lankan tour, as per Reuters.
Despite being left out of Australia‘s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, Smith is still determined to compete in all forms.
“I don’t have any plans, I’m just enjoying playing at the moment. I’m pretty relaxed and I’m looking forward to this summer,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“I think I’ll get a few (BBL) games in this year and then we’ll see where we go from there. Every chance I get, I jump at it.”
In Australia’s most recent home summer, Smith opened the batting for the team against the West Indies and New Zealand, following David Warner‘s retirement from Test cricket following the Pakistan series.
His career average of 56.97 was far higher than the 171 runs he scored in eight innings as an opener at an average of 28.25.
Though he intimated his teammates wanted him back at number four, where he has spent the majority of his Test career, Smith admitted he had no idea whether he would open the five-Test series against India, which begins at Perth Stadium on November 22.
“The conversations I’ve had so far are that we’ll go to England and the boys will have the T20s, and then I’m there for the one-dayers and we’ll make a decision after that,” he said.
“Those conversations are happening in the background. I saw some comments that Usman (Khawaja) made and I think he said he likes me down at number four, and I think Marnus (Labuschagne) is of a similar thought pattern.
“I’m happy wherever and I’ll bat anywhere for the team. For me it’s just a position.”
After signing a three-year deal with the Sixers, the 35-year-old may play four BBL matches at home in the summer in between the final Test match against India and the Sri Lankan tour, as per Reuters.
Despite being left out of Australia‘s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, Smith is still determined to compete in all forms.
“I don’t have any plans, I’m just enjoying playing at the moment. I’m pretty relaxed and I’m looking forward to this summer,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“I think I’ll get a few (BBL) games in this year and then we’ll see where we go from there. Every chance I get, I jump at it.”
In Australia’s most recent home summer, Smith opened the batting for the team against the West Indies and New Zealand, following David Warner‘s retirement from Test cricket following the Pakistan series.
His career average of 56.97 was far higher than the 171 runs he scored in eight innings as an opener at an average of 28.25.
Though he intimated his teammates wanted him back at number four, where he has spent the majority of his Test career, Smith admitted he had no idea whether he would open the five-Test series against India, which begins at Perth Stadium on November 22.
“The conversations I’ve had so far are that we’ll go to England and the boys will have the T20s, and then I’m there for the one-dayers and we’ll make a decision after that,” he said.
“Those conversations are happening in the background. I saw some comments that Usman (Khawaja) made and I think he said he likes me down at number four, and I think Marnus (Labuschagne) is of a similar thought pattern.
“I’m happy wherever and I’ll bat anywhere for the team. For me it’s just a position.”
