After a brilliant Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 season in the United States, Australian cricket legend Steve Smith has his sights set on something beyond traditional cricketing glory — representing Australia in the Olympic Games.
At 36, Smith may not be the obvious pick for the Australian cricket squad for LA 2028 (Los Angeles Olympics). But the former Australian captain isn’t giving up just yet. With a trophy cabinet full of international cricket accolades — barring the elusive ICC Champions Trophy — Smith now dreams of donning the green and gold on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.
“I’ve watched a lot of the Olympics since I was a young kid, and I’ve really enjoyed watching the Australian athletes go about it. When I heard that cricket was going to be a part of it, I was like that would be really cool to be involved in,” Smith said in an interview quoted by the ICC.
Cricket at the Olympics: A New Frontier
Cricket will return to the Olympics for only the second time in history, with its last appearance dating all the way back to the 1900 Paris Games. Its inclusion in LA28 marks a landmark moment for the sport, and Smith sees it as a unique, fresh challenge.
“I’ve obviously played in lots of World Cups and Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophies and things like that. When this popped up, it was something new. A new opportunity to represent your country on the world stage. I’d love to be involved in that,” Smith said.
Currently in England playing in The Hundred 2025, Smith remains committed to high-level cricket. Once the tournament wraps up, he’ll head back to Australia to prepare for the much-anticipated Ashes 2025-26 series.
Smith on Ashes 2025-26 and Joe Root’s Australia Challenge
This upcoming Ashes series, starting November 2025 in Perth, promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With England’s aggressive Bazball approach set for its first full tour of Australia, Smith believes this could be the most competitive Ashes he’s ever played at home.
The Aussie great also praised Joe Root, hailing his evolution as a batter:
“I think he’s been incredible. His ability to make big scores — to go from 50 to 100 — which was one thing he got caught in for a while. Now he’s just making that count and making huge scores.”
However, Smith also noted a gap in Root’s impressive resume:
“He hasn’t scored a hundred in Australia. I think that’s been talked about quite a lot. I’m sure that’s something he wants to tick off his bucket list as well.”
With age not on his side, Smith knows the path to Olympic selection won’t be easy. But for a player who has consistently defied the odds and dominated the sport, one more shot at history — this time at the Olympic Games 2028 — could be the perfect final chapter.
