Ashes 2023: Steve Smith laughs at Michael Vaughan’s claims of retirement after Oval Test

By India Today Sports Desk: Australia batter Steve Smith has laughed off the feedback made by Michael Vaughan that he’s set to retire after the fifth and remaining Ashes 2023 Test on the Oval.

Vaughan steered that Warner and Smith may announce their retirements after the fifth Ashes Test. The hypothesis was fueled by the truth that this may very well be their final Test match on English soil.

“But the whisper was and I have no idea where they’re getting this whisper, but that Warner, if he plays at The Oval, it’ll probably be his last.

“Again I’m not too sure where they’ve got that. And quite a strong whisper was about Steve Smith that it could be his last time out for Australia at the Oval as well. Again, I’ve not seen that personally, but it’s just the whisper and the gossip.”

“It might just be the rain in Manchester that gets people talking, but that was the talk of the press box yesterday that a couple of Australian legends, greats might call it a day at The Oval.”

Warner had squashed the rumours earlier than the match and now Smith has weighed in on the matter after the tip of day’s play on Friday. The Australian star laughed on the suggestion made by Vaughan and rapidly stated, as quoted by cricket.com.au, he is not retiring.

“I’m not retiring,” Smith said. “I don’t know (the place it is come from), as a result of I have not stated it to anybody. I’m not going wherever but.”

Smith had an eventful day on the Oval on Friday as he performed a resilient knock of 71 to make sure that Australia survived a batting collapse and took the lead over England.

However, he was additionally on the centre of controversy when he discovered himself in a contentious run-out scenario in the course of the 78th over of the match.

Smith had performed a ball to midwicket and referred to as for a two when he was seen diving for his crease. England’s wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow, swiftly dislodged the bails, main many to imagine that Smith was wanting his floor. Even Smith himself appeared to just accept his destiny, beginning to head again to the pavilion.

However, third umpire Nitin Menon would rule him not out on the idea of Law 29.1.