Steve Smith, Australia's captain at the 2025 Champions Trophy, has announced immediate retirement from ODI cricket after their loss to India in the semi-final.
Smith, who top-scored for Australia with 73 in the four-wicket loss in Dubai, retires after playing 170 ODIs, where he scored 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28. It includes 12 hundreds and 35 fifties. Having started off as a leg-spinning all-rounder, he also took 28 wickets at 34.67.
Smith told his teammates about his decision at the end of the match against India.
He was part of Australia's ICC ODI World Cup winning squads in 2015 and 2023. In 2015, he led then for the first time, captaining in 64 ODIs, including the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he held the interim position in the absence of Pat Cummins.
In 2015 and later in 2021, he was also named Australia's Men's ODI Player of the Year. He was also part of the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year in 2015.
Smith retires: "It has been a great ride"
In a statement released by Cricket Australia, Smith said: “It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it. There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight along with the many fantastic team-mates who shared the journey.
“Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 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.”
Against India, he also entered the top-five among Australia's international run-getters, going past Michael Clarke's tally. Ahead of him are Ricky Ponting, David Warner, Steve Waugh and Allan Border.
He will continue to remain available for Australia in T20Is and Tests.
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