Retirement soon ? Steve Smith makes a SHOCKING revelation about his career

Smith, who has retired from ODIs, took a break to rejuvenate and is now going to lead Australia in the opening Ashes Test starting November 21 in Perth with regular skipper Pat Cummins still recuperating from a lower back injury.

The 36-year-old now stays in New York during the Australian winter and and hadn’t picked up a bat since August. “I certainly get drained mentally quicker than I’ve probably used to,” Smith told reporters here after his first training session.

“Ten years ago, I loved to come back and play every single game that I could. Now obviously my Test cricket has taken a huge priority.

“I know that when I play a lot at the start, by the end of the summer I’m pretty cooked mentally and probably can’t produce the same performances,” Smith recalled his younger days.

The conservation of energy and prioritization of formats has had a positive effect, something Smith felt after scoring two centuries during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last season. “Last year, I was probably batting my best at the back end of the summer against India, coming off not too much cricket at the start. Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel like I’m ready to go now,” Smith said.