Follow UsSteve Smith, ever since he had a great Major League Cricket (MLC) season in 2024 in the United States, hasn’t been able to let go of a dream that he dreamt of playing for his country at the highest level, the Olympics.
At 36, Smith is not the most desirable athlete the Australian cricket team would be eying at for the Los Angeles Olympics or LA 2028, as it is being called. However, the Aussie legend is not ready to give up as yet.
“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 was quoted as saying about his Olympic dreams by ICC.
Saying that he has played and won almost everything that is there to be won in cricket (except the ICC Champions Trophy), Smith now wants to represent his country at the historic event. Cricket will be played at the Olympics for only the second time, having last been featured in the 1900 Paris Games.
“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,” said Smith, who is currently in England to play The Hundred 2025.
After his Hundred stint, Smith will be back home to prepare for what could turn out to be the most competitive Ashes at home that he would have played in his career with Babzball’s first tour Downunder. Smith had all the praise for England's Joe Root and also commented on his goal of scoring a ton in Australia.
“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 that spot for a while. Now he’s just making that count and making huge scores,” Smith said.
“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,” he added.
The Ashes 2025-26 will kick off with the first Test at Perth, beginning November 2021. The last time England won the Ashes away from home was in 2010-11.