Steve Smith retires from ODIs after Champions Trophy exit

[Tillu]

Steve Smith has called time on his ODI career, finishing up after 170 appearances

Steve Smith has played his last One-Day International, calling time on his Australia 50-over career following last night's four-wicket loss to India in Dubai that ended his team's Champions Trophy campaign.

Smith will continue to be available for Test and T20I selection, the latter decision perhaps reflecting a wish to be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles where the 20-over game will feature for the first time.

The 35-year-old told teammates of his decision in the aftermath of the Champions Trophy semi-final defeat in Dubai overnight, and said today "it feels like the right time to make way".

"It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it," Smith said in a release today.

"There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight along with the many fantastic teammates who shared the journey.

"Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup so it feels like the right time to make way.

"Test cricket remains a priority and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship final, the West Indies in the winter and then England at home. I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage."

 

Smith ends his ODI career with 170 appearances, making him the nation's 16th-most capped men's player in the 50-over format and the 12th highest runs scorer.

He also captained Australia in 64 one-day matches, for a winning percentage of 50 per cent, including series wins against England and India in his first year as full-time skipper, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and a tri-series victory over South Africa and West Indies in the Caribbean (both in 2016).

More recently, he led Australia to a 3-0 clean sweep of the West Indies in Cummins' absence as captain during the 2023-24 home summer.

Smith finishes with 5800 runs at an average of 43.28 and a strike rate of 86.96 per 100 balls faced, with 12 centuries and 35 fifties and a highest score of 164 against New Zealand at the SCG in 2016.

 

Of the 11 Australia players to have scored more ODI runs, only explosive openers David Warner (strike rate 97.26) and Adam Gilchrist (96.89) have done so at a faster clip.

But most significantly he was a key part of Australia's World Cup-winning campaigns in 2015 – where he struck the winning boundary in the final against NZ at the MCG – and 2023 when they upset host nation India in the decider.

 

He also made a significant contribution in the 2019 tournament in the UK where he and teammate David Warner made their returns to international cricket following their 12-month playing bans.

 

Given his record in ICC events, it was fitting that Smith top scored as stand-in skipper in last night's loss to India with 73 from 96 balls before he played around a full toss from Mohammed Shami and was bowled.

 

While Smith's sole World Cup century came in a clutch semi-final innings against India at the SCG in 2015, his 10 half-centuries in the showcase tournament is the most by any Australia batter eclipsing Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist who both posted eight.

He has also held 90 catches at an average of 0.53 per innings – only Glenn Maxwell (0.61) and Mike Hussey (0.57) boast a better ratio among Australia players to have taken 70 or more ODI grabs – including some extraordinary one-handed efforts.

Among his most memorable were the gravity-defying pluck he pulled off to remove B J Watling in the same ODI against he produced his career-high score, and an equally memorable snare to his right in the final game of that 2016 Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series at the MCG.

 

Cricket. Com. Au

 

Edited March 5, 2025 by Tillu

[Bigg Brother]

2 times WC winner. Was instrumental in 2015, not so in 2023. Still great career. 

[Suhaan]

A great Aussie way of bidding good bye at the right moment

[ungboysj]

Yahan 40 sal ke, halwai jaisi body leke, slogger ban ke, 0 world cup win wale, retire hi nahin hote

Edited March 5, 2025 by ungboysj

[Lord]

An ODI great irrespective of what stats say.

 

Turned up in KO more than others

[Nikhil_cric]

A very good ODI player at his peak. 11 of his 12 tons came in this period 

 

 

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/267192.html?class=2;spanmax1=29+Nov+2020;spanmin1=07+Oct+2014;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Edited March 5, 2025 by Nikhil_cric

[Number]

1 hour ago, Tillu said:

"Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup so it feels like the right time to make way.

Making place for youngsters.

Although I don't see anyone threatening his place.

 

Killed it in all 3 knockouts of 2015.

2019 SF knock was quite good too, almost a lone hand.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sgattick10]

One of the greats, always turned up in KOs and 2 time WC champion 

[putrevus]

Warner was more an all format batsman than Steve Smith.

 

He had his moments, not a great Odi batsman by any stretch.

[deathmonger]

29 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Warner was more an all format batsman than Steve Smith.

 

He had his moments, not a great Odi batsman by any stretch.

in a way like zaheer khan. not the greatest all time but showed up when it mattered.

[Lord]

younger than both Rohit and Kohli but retired to make way for young players for 2027

 

hope they take note

[nevada]

Graceful retirement, well played! 

[putrevus]

12 minutes ago, deathmonger said:

in a way like zaheer khan. not the greatest all time but showed up when it mattered.

Zak showed up in one tournament but he was more a factor in that win than Smith was in two.

[putrevus]

Kohli if chooses to play 2027 , should be fine to play.

 

Smith as Odi player is not even in the same league as even  Rohit forget Kohli.

[Lord]

https://x.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1897217111098904778

 

 

[deathmonger]

28 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Zak showed up in one tournament but he was more a factor in that win than Smith was in two.

zak showed up in two - 2003 minus the final and 2011 throughout. 2011 was won.

 

smith showed up in one - 2015 where he was good in the kos. 2023 he didn't show up.

[deathmonger]

24 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Kohli if chooses to play 2027 , should be fine to play.

 

Smith as Odi player is not even in the same league as even  Rohit forget Kohli.

kohli should make a go.

 

rohit on a case by case basis.

[Serpico]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

Zak showed up in one tournament but he was more a factor in that win than Smith was in two.

Smith played 7 odi knockouts and came good(50+) in 5 of them, including one century. Only player with more 50s in KOs is Tendulkar (6 out of 14)

 

Easily one of the most impactful players in odi KOs, not an underachiever like Rohit and Virat 

Edited March 5, 2025 by Serpico

[putrevus]

10 minutes ago, Serpico said:

Smith played 7 odi knockouts and came good(50+) in 5 of them, including one century. Only player with more 50s in KOs is Tendulkar (6 out of 14)

 

Easily one of the most impactful players in odi KOs, not an underachiever like Rohit and Virat 

oh really.Don't think so.

Edited March 5, 2025 by putrevus

[R!TTER]

3 hours ago, Number said:

 

Killed it in all 3 knockouts of 2015.

Tbf he had good conditions in all 3 - Pak had an underpar score, batting first against us & Starc/Faulkner killed the game vs NZ. None of the situations were particularly tough, even the Wahab Spell.