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Superstar batter Steve Smith sees a world where he is still playing cricket when the sport is included at the 2028 Olympics.
Steve Smith is leaving the door open for a possible Olympic appearance in Los Angeles but remains unsure about specific retirement plans.
On Tuesday, Smith signed a three-year deal with the BBL's Sydney Sixers that begins this summer, the clearest indication yet that the superstar batter intends to continue playing in some capacity for years to come.
Twenty20 cricket will be one of five new sports included at the 2028 Olympics, which are set to open in Los Angeles around 18 months after Smith's new BBL deal ends.
While David Warner's recent international retirement helped fuel speculation as to the future of the other great Australian batter from that generation, 35-year-old Smith has no intention to follow suit just yet.
And though Smith would turn 39 shortly before the 2028 Games, he can see a world where he is still playing T20 cricket, possibly as a globe-trotting gun-for-hire.
Smith is not currently a mainstay of the national T20 side but remains an in-demand opener at franchise level, helping the Washington Freedom to the Major League Cricket title in July.
"I could still be playing T20 cricket in four years, so you never know," he said of Olympic ambitions.
"It's a format I could see myself playing for probably a lot longer than some of the others, particularly with a lot of the franchise stuff around the world.
"I've signed on here (at the Sixers) for three years, it's only another year after that. It'd be cool to be part of an Olympics, definitely."
Smith says he is giving little thought to his Test future as Australia prepare to host India for an extended five-match series from November.
"I don't have any (retirement) plans, I'm just enjoying playing at the moment. I'm pretty relaxed and I'm looking forward to this summer," Smith said.
"I think India's going to be a great challenge. They're a very good side. I think we're probably the two best Test teams in the world at the moment."
The 35-year-old expects his future as Test opener to be settled during next month's white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, which Smith will join for the ODI- leg against England.
Smith moved up to replace the retiring Warner at opener for the two-Test tour of New Zealand earlier this year but averaged only 12.75 across his four innings with a high score of 31.
Teammates have already told Smith they prefer him at No.4, where he has lined up for 111 of his 195 Test innings.
The 35-year-old said he had "no idea" where he would bat this summer, with Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Green all other contenders to slot in at the top if Smith is moved down.
"The conversations I've had so far are we'll go to England, the boys have the T20s and then I'm there for the one-dayers and then we'll make a decision after that," he said.
"I think (Usman Khawaja) said he likes me down at No.4, I think Marnus (Labuschagne) is of a similar thought pattern. We'll wait and see. I'm happy anywhere, I'll bat wherever for the team."
