Australian batting juggernaut Steve Smith has expressed his wish to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Steve Smith wants to extend his T20 career to return to Australia's set-up in the shortest format and prove his worth on the global stage at the Olympics. Smith's statement came after he cracked a magnificent century in Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-2025 on Saturday, January 12.
Steve Smith wishes to play Los Angeles Olympics 2028
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, Smith guided the Sydney Sixers to a crucial 14-run victory over the Perth Scorchers in the 30th match of the ongoing BBL 2024-25. He cracked an unbeaten 121 runs off just 64 balls which was nothing short of spectacular. His innings against the Perth Scorchers, featuring seven towering sixes and a display of masterful strokeplay.
Despite being overlooked for the 2024 T20 World Cup and going unsold in the previous four IPL auctions, Smith has consistently impressed with his batting prowess in the BBL. He has been in remarkable form, smashing three centuries in just seven matches, equalling Ben McDermott's record for the most centuries in the league's history. Notably, Smith achieved this feat in a significantly shorter span, reaching the milestone in only 32 games compared to McDermott's 100 innings.
While undoubtedly one of Australia's top T20 openers, Smith has ambitions beyond domestic success. He is determined to reclaim his place in the Australian T20 squad and prove his worth on the international stage. With the 2028 Olympics firmly in his sights, Smith is poised to take his T20 career to new heights.
“I'd like to play in the Olympics; I reckon that would be cool. We'll see how far I go in terms of long-form cricket. But I am going to play short-form cricket for a while, I think, when I do finish. You never know. There are a lot of good young kids who are smacking the ball out of the park,” Smith said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
The return of cricket to the Olympics after a century of absence has ignited a new ambition within Steve Smith which is to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Despite the age factor, Smith is determined to extend his T20 career and secure a spot on the Olympic team. While his plans for Test cricket remain undisclosed, his focus is firmly on excelling in the shorter format for years to come.
Smith's recent performance in the BBL serves as a testament to his T20 prowess. His stunning 121-run innings against the Perth Scorchers, achieved with minimal preparation following the Test series against India. Smith has thrived as a T20 opener. He believes that regular exposure to T20 cricket will further enhance his skills and elevate his game to new heights.
“I find the more I play back-to-back games, the more you get in sync with the game. Even on [Saturday], I don't think I played my first 10 balls really well. I was probably going a bit too hard for how the wicket was playing. But if I am playing T20s regularly, I probably come out with a slightly different mindset at the start, giving myself a bit more time. It's just the gears and going up and down in the gears throughout the innings [that change for T20s]. And just playing the percentages,” he concluded.