Stand-in Australian captain Steve Smith hung the call upon his ODI career, bringing curtains down to a 170-match stint for the national side including two World Cup wins, a day after his side’s exit in the Champions Trophy. Smith, who was leading the Australian team in the absence of probably half of the first-choice players, did well with the inexperienced bowling unit to get the two-time champions to the semi-final before India flexed their collective muscles to advance to the final in Dubai.
“It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it,” Smith said in a release. The 35-year-old reckoned that he didn’t see himself getting to the 2027 ODI World Cup and now is the time for Australia to start building the team for the 50-over tournament and for him to make way for others with Test cricket being his priority.
“Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup so it feels like the right time to make way.
“Test cricket remains a priority and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship final, the West Indies in the winter and then England at home. I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage,” Smith added while mentioning that winning the two Cricket World Cups in 2015 and 2023 will be the highlight for him as far as his ODI career is concerned.
