Ashes: Smith uncertain about future, open to leadership transition after Khawaja exit

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith has admitted he remains uncertain about the length of his international career, saying he is taking things series by series even as Australia begin to plan for a leadership transition in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins.

With Usman Khawaja set to retire after the Sydney Test and Nathan Lyon already sidelined through injury, Smith is set to become the oldest player in the Australian XI alongside Scott Boland in the Ashes 2025–26 finale.

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“I’ve said it for a while, I’m taking it day-by-day, series-by-series, and we’ll see where things land,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m doing alright at the moment, I’m enjoying it, I’m contributing, and having fun. So there’s no real end date for me.

“I think with obviously Usman dropping off, he’s one of our experienced players, so it probably wouldn’t be ideal if he and I went out this week, for instance,” he added. “So no, I want to keep playing.”

Smith has captained Australia in four Ashes Tests during Cummins’ absence, but stressed that he would be comfortable stepping aside if selectors opt to invest in a younger leader after Khawaja’s departure. He believes the team’s recent success has been built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance.

“I think we’ve got a really good team,” Smith said. “The team we’ve had over the last three or four years, obviously making two World Test Championship finals, different people have stood up at different times. It’s never been one or two people just getting the job done. It’s been shared across and guys have done great jobs throughout and I think that’s what’s made us a really good team.

“So, it’s been good to be a part of and as an older player now, hopefully I can help some of the players coming through and help teach them the game of Test cricket.”

Australia sealed the Ashes with dominant wins in Perth and Brisbane before going 3-0 up with victory in Adelaide. England, however, hit back in Melbourne with a four-wicket win inside two days, their first Test victory in Australia in 15 years.

Despite having already retained the urn, Smith underlined the importance of the final Test with World Test Championship points at stake.

“With the World Test championship, every game is important,” he said. “Hopefully we can turn it around here, win this series 4-1, and now, more importantly, just win a Test in the World Test championship cycle.”

Smith also reflected warmly on Khawaja’s career, recalling first watching him bat in junior cricket in New South Wales. “I remember playing against him in a couple of Under-17 versus Under-19 games for New South Wales and watching him bat,” Smith said.

“The way he pulled the ball, I was like, this guy picks length up quicker than anyone I’ve seen… and just his progression over a long period of time has been outstanding.”

Addressing Khawaja’s multiple omissions earlier in his career, Smith felt those setbacks ultimately strengthened the left-hander.

“He hates it, but we dropped him,” Smith said. “I was captain at that stage and we dropped him in the subcontinent… But he went back and found some different methods to defend spin… He’s arguably one of our best players of spin now. So maybe [it was] a blessing in disguise. But the way he’s been able to play over his 15-year career… it’s a credit to him and not too many people get to go out on their own terms,” the right-hander added.