Australia will not pressure Steve Smith to make call on Test future after outstanding Sri Lanka series

Australian national team coach Andrew McDonald stated that he would not rush Steve Smith to make any definitive decisions about his future Test career after Smith displayed amazing form in the Sri Lanka series. McDonald emphasized Smith's importance to the team and expressed his hope that Smith can maintain this form for as long as possible, contributing significantly to the team's success.

As interim captain, Smith led the Australian team to a 2-0 sweep of Sri Lanka and was named Player of the Series as a result. Smith scored centuries in both matches, ultimately finishing the series with 272 runs and an average score of 136. Previously, Smith had also scored two centuries against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy-winning series for Australia, demonstrating his consistent high performance.

McDonald praised, "We are fortunate to have him, and he is entering another golden period of his career." He added, "Hopefully, he won't give up this form too quickly. He will participate in every series and assess his condition after it ends. When you reach this age and have achieved so much in your career, you have the right to do so," respecting Smith's experience and achievements.

Although the Australian team has multiple options in terms of top and middle-order players, the situation has changed after not having a specialist batsman make their Test debut in nearly four years. Samconstas, Nathan McSweeney, Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly all made their debuts in the India and Sri Lanka series, adding fresh talent to the squad. All-rounder Cameron Green is also expected to be available for the World Test Championship final in June after recovering from a summer injury.

Despite the abundance of talent, McDonald stated that once Smith decides to retire, he will be difficult to replace. He said, "The day he leaves, it will be a huge void. We are not sure when that day will come yet. As a coach, I hope he can stay here as long as possible," highlighting the irreplaceable value Smith brings to the team both on and off the field.