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Steve Smith says he is unsure how much longer he will play Test cricket, admitting he is adopting a tour-by-tour approach to his future.
- Steve Smith says he cannot put a timeline on when he will retire
- He scored 104 on day two of the third Test against South Africa in Sydney
- Smith sits in equal third place on the list of the most Test centuries by an Australian
Smith remains at the top of his game, having scored 104 on day two of the third Test against South Africa at the SCG.
He now sits alongside Matthew Hayden — in equal third place — on the list of most Test centuries by an Australian, with 30, one more than Sir Donald Bradman.
Only Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32) sit ahead of 33-year-old Smith, who is playing his 92nd Test.
Earlier in the summer, Smith doubted whether he had enough time left in his career to surpass Ponting's Australian record of Test centuries.
After helping Australia reach stumps on day two on 4-475, Smith said he could not guarantee how many more home Test summers he would contest.
"We'll see. I'm enjoying it at the moment," Smith told reporters at the SCG.
"I really can't say how long I'll play for. I'm not sure.
"I'll take it one tour at a time and just enjoy it, enjoy training and trying to get better as well.
"Whilst I'm doing that, I'm happy playing, but I don't know how long that'll last."
Using his experience to assist his teammates remains a priority for Smith, especially as Australia braces for tough tours of India and England between now and next summer.
"For me, it's about trying to get better and trying to help some of the other batters coming through," Smith said.
"Just try [to] impart as much knowledge of conditions and ways to go about it.
"If I can say something and see that light bulb go on when someone figures something out, I get a big thrill out of that."
Smith's latest century was his fourth at the SCG, meaning he trails only Ponting (six) in tons scored at the famous ground.
His knock also helped him become just the sixth male player to have scored more than 1,000 Test runs at the venue.
"I don't play for that kind of stuff, but it was cool to look up and see my name amongst those great players," he said.
"It was pretty special."
AAP