The star Aussie batter Steve Smith expressed his aspirations of featuring in a T20I for Australia in the Olympics, but admitted that playing for his country in big T20I tournaments may not be possible anymore, saying “that ship has sailed,” according to ESPNcricinfo.

Smith, who last featured in a T20I for Australia back in February 2024, recently smashed a 42-ball 100 for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), followed by 54 off 40 deliveries against Brisbane Heat to help the Sixers into the Qualifier final.

However, Smith acknowledged that his chances in major Australian tournaments may be limited, but he’s focused on enjoying cricket, performing well, and aiming for a spot in the team for the 2028 LA Olympics.

“I always want to play for Australia in big tournaments. But I think that ship’s sailed. I reckon they’ve got two opening batters that are doing pretty well. I’m relaxed, doing what I can here and having some fun. My main goal, as I’ve said before, is to get in the team when the Olympics is rolling around. I’d be keen to do that. That’d be pretty cool. Keep doing what I’m doing and you never know,” Smith said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

In T20Is, Smith has scored 1094 runs in 67 matches for Australia, at an average of 24.86 and a strike rate of 125.45.Smith has, of late, batted as an opener for the T20 franchises that he has featured for around the world.

Notably, Smith’s T20 stats showcase that he has the best credentials as an opener compared to other positions that he has batted in. As an opener, Smith has an average of 47.67 and a strike rate of 155.08.

Smith explained that previously he often had to stabilise the innings in the middle order, but opening allows him to play more freely, enjoy batting, and take on the bowlers from the start.

“I’ve played some different roles. A lot of the time when I was playing, I was the guy that had to stick it together in the middle. If there were a couple of early wickets I’d have to be the one to rebuild. I wasn’t always the go out and play freely kind of player. It was a different kind of role. Since opening the batting, it gives me an opportunity to just be free from ball one, see it as I see it and take it on and have some fun out there,” he said.

Smith said he’s working on increasing his power to compete with big hitters, but the main change is that opening the batting suits his style, allowing him to play more freely and target unique areas.

“I’m trying to get a bit stronger and hit the ball a little bit further,” he said.

“I’ve got to try and keep up with some of the guys that hit the ball a mile. But honestly, I don’t think a lot’s changed. I’ve had the opportunity now just to open the batting. Obviously starting with two out it kind of suits me. I hit the ball to some unique areas. It’s nice to bat up top like most people want to do.”

The former Australian cricketer and the current Chair of Selectors for the Australian men’s cricket team, George Bailey, stated that Smith’s name is still “in the mix” for the national T20I team, ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

Notably, Australia have already announced their provisional T20 World Cup 2026 squad, and although changes can be made until January 31, the selectors will alter their plans only in the event of injuries.

George Bailey said that Steve Smith’s strong BBL form makes him a valuable option for Australia’s T20I team, and while the team already has good options, Smith would be considered if any changes were needed.

“It’s a great problem to have, isn’t it? He’s playing incredibly well, as he has done in the BBL for the last couple of years, in a position that we’ve got really good coverage in. But if there were moving parts and something was required around there, no doubt his name would be in the mix,” said Bailey as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“I’d hate to put a line through saying that Steve couldn’t bat anywhere else, because I think he’s proven us wrong, or he’s proved his ability to be able to do that on a number of occasions. I think when he’s had international opportunities of late, it has been at the top. Certainly, his most recent ones have been. He’s played a lot of international T20 cricket. Clearly, when he goes back to the Big Bash, he is a level above,” Bailey said further.

Published – January 20, 2026 02:24 am IST

Australian players celebrate a wicket on day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test against England in Melbourne on December 26, 2025. 20 wickets fall on day 1 as Australia took a 46 run lead over England.
| Photo Credit: AP

Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli and Australia’s Steve Smith would be more than keen to stamp their authority in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in which runs would be “at a premium”, feels Australian great Matthew Hayden.

Hayden, considered one of the best openers of his era, opined that both Kohli and Smith like to dominate in their own ways and will hold the key to how the series pans out Down Under.

Also Read:Nathan Lyon seeks English spinner Hartley’s ‘inputs’ to tame Yashasvi Jaiswal

“Cricket is a game of momentum and I’m sure those two players, coming now to the later pages of their cricketing careers, will be very keen to dominate the landscape through the summer,” Hayden said on the sidelines of the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards on Wednesday (August 21, 2024).

“That’s their nature. They do it in very different ways, very different styles, but certainly, they really are the key to the Australian summer,” he said.

India and Australia will play a five-Test series for the first time since 1991-92 starting November 22 at Perth, and Hayden said it will be hard to pick which team has the edge.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy in sight, Cummins takes eight-week break

“You look at the lineups, and it’s hard to really tell who has the edge. I sense that it’s going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference. Guys that are sure bets have retired like (Cheteshwar) Pujara was a sure bet in Australian conditions,” he said.

“Was he exciting? No. Was he effective? Heck, yes. When you look back over the years, guys like Raul Dravid, VVS Laxman… they were really sure bets in our market. The best need to stand up in this series, runs are going to be at a premium,” he said.

Hayden said Australian players will be eager to end their barren run against India, having last won a bilateral series in 2014-15.

“We haven’t had it (the trophy) in our hands for two series in Australia, which is kind of the coveted grounds. Not that’s similar to the Steve Waugh era here in 2001, where this was the hallowed turf, this was a place where Australia really wanted to come and win,” he said.

“And his great era didn’t do it. There’s always this fantastic opportunity for the No. 1 (and) No. 2 sides on the World Test Championship to go head to head, especially abroad in each other’s camps and see who really has those kinds of final rights…

“…to claim not only the possibility of playing the (World) Test Championship (final) but also who’s the very best of the best, which you judge on how you tour, not so much how you play at home,” he said.

Nathan Lyon vs Yashasvi Jaiswal

With Nathan Lyon setting his sights on dominating young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hayden said it was the right move given the opening batter is proving himself to be an ‘asset’ for Indian cricket.

“Isn’t it great that the series is shaping up the bare-heavyweight bout, someone like the GOAT (Lyon) going after (Jaiswal), what is in my opinion one of the key assets for Indian cricket. Yes he’s certainly proving to be that,” he said.

Hayden said while Jaiswal’s ability to hit on the up through covers is special, he will have to adjust given the length of the boundaries in Australia.

“Young Jaiswal is an exciting prospect to see how he’ll play. He is a package. His ability in particular to get on the up through the covers is phenomenal. That’ll also have its vulnerabilities,” Hayden said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he adjusts on bouncy tracks. We did notice in the IPL that he’s a very hard hitter of the ball, pull shots in particular, but that’ll be challenged by three world-class speedsters, assuming they’re all fit and on much bigger grounds.

“It has to almost be the perfect contact for that ball to sail over (for a) six so you can get caught easily, three-quarters of the way in the fence. They (all) have little adjustments that world-class players like Jazzy (Jaiswal) will make for sure,” he said.

Australia will miss Warner

Hayden said Australia will miss David Warner, who announced his retirement from international cricket in July.

“For the first time, it (opening slot) doesn’t feel as secure. David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He gave a service that was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic,” he said.

“He really took that legacy that I’d created through the 2000s to a new level, strike rates in excess of 80, and gave great momentum to the top order, which otherwise is quite conservative. He’s an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace him,” Hayden added.

Hayden said had reservations about Smith emerging as a choice for the opener’s slot. Smith has played at the No. 4 slot for a majority of his career but was moved to the opening slot after Warner’s retirement from Test cricket.

“I was on record saying that I didn’t like changing. I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position and then you change to a completely different position,” he said.

Watch | Nathan Lyon interview | On batting on one leg, ‘The Test’ and IPL 2024

Nathan Lyon hobbles and limps gingerly as he walks out to bat to a cheering audience at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Batting on one leg and visibly in discomfort due to a calf injury, Nathan would go on to add four off 13 excruciating balls in one of the most dramatic cricketing moments as part of the England-Australia clash for the Ashes 2023.

Nathan’s wife, Emma, did not want him to bat under such circumstances. Nor did his captain, Pat Cummins, or the team’s physio. Luckily, head coach Andrew McDonald wanted him to, and Nathan knew right away that he would find a way.

“A lot of people around the world go to work uncomfortable. I know the importance of 10 to 15 runs in an Ashes, and I wanted to contribute. When I had a calf injury, I felt like I had let down my teammates and I just wanted to make sure that I help them out by playing a role,” says Nathan, over a virtual conversation, about a vital moment that is also chronicled in the The Test Season 3, currently streaming on Prime Video.

The current season of The Testfollows the Australian men’s cricket team as they embark on a gruelling tour of England in 2023, where they faced India in the World Test Final and took on England in the Ashes. Apart from cricketing moments, The Test also gives a peek into locker-room talk and how players navigate the challenges of balancing sport at the highest level, and their family life. “There are superstars on the team, like Steve Smith and David Warner, but we’re all human, and we see that element coming out in The Test. It’s important for everyone to realise that we make mistakes but we also try our best to go out there and win some games.”

Such documentaries chronicle not just sporting moments, but also provide insights into sportspersons’ lives and how they deal with success and loss. Nathan agrees, “It’s massive, mate. I watch a lot of such stuff, like Quarterback, Full Swing and Tour de France: Unchained. My favourite is the Formula 1 documentary, Drive to Survive. There are great insights into the way individuals prepare for big moments, and that makes for some amazing viewing for fans.”

Spin is in

Growing up in Australia, known to produce fast-bowlers of pedigree such as Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee and Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon still wanted to get into spin, a skill that you would largely associate with the subcontinent. He idolised late Australian legendary spinner Shane Warne. “Well, my brother (Brendan Lyon) and I idolised Shane Warne. Seeing him win games for Australia was so special, and so, Brendan took up leg spin. I just wanted to be bigger and better than my brother.”

Today, Nathan, with over 500 wickets to his name, is considered Australia’s most successful offspinner and he loves it when the ball spins. “I’ve been watching the IPL a fair bit now, and if I’m being honest, I’d like to see the wickets to come back a little bit to see a fair contest between bat and ball. Spin is incredibly important in all formats of cricket. Whenever the ball spins, you get the maximum eyes on the television. When we tour India for Test cricket and the ball spins, I feel there are more people watching than anytime else. I absolutely love it when the ball spins and see some batsmen panic. Ravi Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin) has flown the flag for that one in the IPL now and hopefully, he will do a great job with that,” says Nathan, who is also keenly watching his skipper, Pat Cummins, captain Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins in ‘The Test’
| Photo Credit:
Prime Video

While he is not part of the IPL, Nathan swears by the five-day Test format, something that he describes as the ‘pinnacle of cricket.’ “For me, it is a place where you cannot hide. If you cannot play the short ball, you cannot hide. You have to ensure that your skillsets are good enough to compete against the best in the world. T-20 and one-day cricket are here, and Test cricket, well, is miles above.”

The Test: Season 3 is currently streaming on Prime Video