Alright, so big news in cricket – Steve Smith ODI retirement is official. The guy has finally decided he’s done with One-Day Internationals. Let’s be frank, we all knew this was coming at some point, but it still feels a bit weird, doesn’t it?
Alright, here’s how it happened—after Australia’s Champions Trophy semifinal defeat to India in Dubai, Smith expressed his teammates he was calling it quits on ODIs Just like that. No big farewell tour, no dragging it out. Straight-up, classic Smith move. He actually top-scored for Australia in that match, hitting 73 runs. Too bad it was a losing effort, but hey, not a bad way to bow out.
Smith’s ODI Career in Numbers (Because Stats Matter)
Now, let’s get into the numbers, because you gotta appreciate what this guy did in ODIs. He played 170 matches. Scored 5,800 runs. His average? A solid 43.28. Strike rate? 86.96. He racked up 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries in his ODI career. Oh, and get this—he’s Australia’s 12th highest run-scorer in ODIs. Not too bad, right?
His best knock? That would be 164 against New Zealand back in 2016. Absolute beast mode.
And let’s not forget – he didn’t start out as this world-class batter. Believe it or not, he started out as a leg-spinning allrounder when he made his debut. Crazy, right? At some point, the bowling just kinda faded into the background. Happens, right? But he still snagged 28 wickets and 90 catches in ODIs. Not too bad for a guy who ended up being one of the best batters of his time. Wild how that worked out!
Why Now? What’s Next?
So why retire now? Smith himself put it pretty simply. He wants to make way for the next gen, so they can start prepping for the 2027 World Cup. Fair enough. Makes sense.
No need to panic—he’s not walking away from cricket completely. He’s still locked in for Test cricket and T20Is. In his own words, “Test cricket remains a priority.” He’s pumped for the World Test Championship Final, the West Indies series, and of course, the Ashes against England at home. So yeah, he’s still got plenty left to give—just not in ODIs.
Winning It All – Twice!
Oh, and let’s not forget the trophies. Smith was part of Australia’s World Cup winning groups in 2015 and 2023.That’s two ODI World Cups added to his legacy! Not a lot of players can say that.”
And remember when he captained the Aussie side? When Michael Clarke retired, Smith stepped up and took the reins. He led Australia in 64 ODIs, bagging 32 wins along the way. A decent record, though there were also 28 losses and 4 no results. But hey, leading the Australian team is no joke, and he did it well.
Fun fact – for this year’s Champions Trophy, he wasn’t even supposed to be captain. But Pat Cummins got injured, so Smith stepped in as an interim skipper. Turns out, that semifinal loss was his last ODI ever. Talk about an unplanned exit.
Cricket Australia Reacts
So, how’s Cricket Australia taking it? Well, George Bailey, the chair of men’s selectors, had nothing but good things to say. He called Smith’s ODI career “exemplary” and pointed out how he’s leaving the format as a two-time World Cup winner. That’s a legacy right there.
Bailey also made it clear that Smith is still very much a key player in Test cricket. No surprises there. If you’re an Aussie cricket fan, you’ll still be seeing plenty of him in whites.
Final Thoughts
So yeah, that’s it. Steve Smith ODI retirement is official, and while it’s the end of an era, it’s also kinda exciting. The guy has had an insane journey – from leg-spinner to one of the best batters in the world.
We’re gonna miss watching him in ODIs, no doubt. But hey, at least he’s still around for Tests and T20s. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see him in the commentary box, giving his two cents on the next generation of Aussie stars.
Until then, thanks for the memories, Smudge. You’ve been a legend.
