Steve Smith's manager provides much-awaited update on Test retirement

Steve Smith's manager Warren Craig recently assured that the legendary batter will not follow David Warner on his Test retirement journey.

Smith is arguably one of the finest batters to have come out from Australia. However, his numbers in recent times haven't matched upto the lofty standards he has set for himself over the years. In January, when Australia were playing the final Test of a three-match series, against South Africa, in Sydney, Smith said that he was unsure whether he would play in the whites again on home soil for the national team. Hence, the stalwart dropped a hint on his Test retirement but fans will be happy to know that he is currently looking forward to more achievements in what is already an illustrious red-ball career.

"I can debunk that (retirement) at this point in time. He is still talking about things he wants to achieve," said Smith's manager as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.

The 34-year-old has played 102 Test matches and scored 9,320 runs at an average of 58.62. He average 58.40, in 2022, in the longest format of the game but it has dropped to 43.16 in 2023. Smith also didn't have a memorable time with the bat during Australia's triumphant ODI World Cup 2023 campaign. He scored just 302 runs in 10 matches at an average of 33.55, with two fifties. The former Australia captain will have the chance to set things straight during Australia's upcoming three-match home Test series against Pakistan.

Mark Taylor gives take on Steve Smith's future

Former Australian cricketer, Mark Taylor, noted that most players are past their prime when they reach mid-thirties. However, he didn't rule out the possibility of Smith bouncing back strongly in the near future.

"It does not mean they are done, but normally you have seen their best by then. The early 30s would be the purple patch for most players," Taylor said.

He also spoke about Smith's epic comeback in England, four years ago, after serving a 12-month ban owing to the infamous 'Sandpaper Gate' scandal. However, Taylor also reminded how the right-handed batter couldn't build on that performance in the subsequent home series against New Zealand and Pakistan.

"He had that extra motivation to prove he would come back an even better player - and on pitches that did a bit. He did that, and funnily enough he came back on the Australian summer and did not make a lot of runs," Taylor concluded.