Steve Smith retirements rumours ‘debunked’ as Test star eyes historic milestone

Australian superstar Steve Smith will not be following in the footsteps of teammate David Warner with a bombshell rumour put to bed.

Aussie superstar batsmen Steve Smith will not be following David Warner and retiring from Test cricket this summer according to his long-time manager.

The 34-year-old still has goals he wants to achieve with the national team and is within touching distance of becoming only the fourth Australian to score 10,000 Test runs.

Smith reportedly wants to feature in the T20 World Cup in the Carribean and United States next year and also in a much-anticipated series against India in Australia next year.

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“I can debunk that (retirement) at this point in time,” Smith’s manager Warren Craig said to the SMH.

“He’s still talking about things he wants to achieve.”

What retirement? (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Warner has signalled his intention to retire after the upcoming Test series against Pakistan which ends in Sydney in January.

Meanwhile, Smith has also been asked about his own plans for the future over the last 12 months and hasn’t given a definitive answer.

When asked if he had any plans regarding his future ahead of the World Test Championship clash with India, he replied: “no”.

Smith has averaged 34 across nine Test matches since the end of last season, facing India on their spin-friendly wickets and also England on their home soil.

However, since the start of 2022 he has averaged 50 and his overall Test average sits at a staggering 58.61 ahead of series against Pakistan and the West Indies.

The time isn’t over yet for Smith. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Smith is set to turn out in the Sydney Sixers’ Big Bash season-opener against the Melbourne Renegades as a one-off appearance before jetting to Perth to link up with the Test squad for three clashes with Pakistan.

Long-time Sixers teammate Jordan Silk said even having Smith for just one game was “huge” given the runs he could make, the attention his presence brings, and the atmosphere it could create.

“It’s a huge bonus, the impact he was able to have in what four or five games for us last year was enormous and certainly helped our run towards finals,” Silk said on Thursday.

“And to get him back for a Friday night game at the SCG is awesome for us to be able to kick off.

“Hopefully, he can bring some of that form that he had last year and make another hundred or something here. It would be lovely.”

Originally published as Steve Smith retirements rumours ‘debunked’ as Test star eyes historic milestone