'Not sure at this stage': Australian coach leaves door open for Steve Smith to play 'as long as possible'
Updated . First published at
Australian coach Andrew McDonald has left the door open for Steve Smith to play Test cricket "as long as possible" after his blistering recent form.
At the start of the home summer against India, the 35-year-old found himself under pressure to retain his spot in the Test side after a lean run of form.
However, after blasting two centuries against India and another two against Sri Lanka, Smith looks certain to remain in the baggy green for the rest of the year.
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Steve Smith. Getty
Smith was dominant in the 2-0 series win in Galle, filling in as captain for Pat Cummins, with the Aussies now turning their attention to the World Test Championship final.
There's also The Ashes next summer on home soil, which could loom as a potential swansong not only for Smith, but for Usman Khawaja as well.
But according to McDonald, the coaching staff and selectors won't be putting any sort of timeframe on Smith, allowing the all-time great to dictate his own future.
"We're blessed to have him ... he's coming into another sweet spot," he told AAP.
"Hopefully that sort of form, he doesn't want to give up on that too soon. He plays every series and assesses where he's at, at the end of it.
"When you're at that age and you've accomplished so much in your career, you're entitled to be able to do that.
"The day that he goes, it'll be a big hole. When that comes, we're not sure at this stage.
"As a coach, I'd love to have him for as long as possible."
The next task for Smith will be leading the green and gold in the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament, which returns for the first time since 2017.
Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh will all be unavailable for the Aussies, while all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has announced his retirement from ODIs.
