Steve Smith has allayed concerns over his playing future, saying he has no immediate plans to retire from Test cricket.
The 33-year-old raised eyebrows on Thursday when he admitted he did not know if this home summer could be his last, taking a tour-by-tour approach to his future.
Smith is part of an ageing group within the Australian squad, with openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner both aged 36 and in the twilight of their careers.
There are fears of a rush of retirements after this year's marquee Ashes series in England, with Nathan Lyon (35), Scott Boland (33) Mitchell Starc (32) and Josh Hazlewood (31) among others aged over 30.
Any exit of Smith would, however, represent the biggest shock to Australian cricket.
His love affair with batting makes him one of the most obsessed cricketers in the country, while he has shown a recent desire to reinvigorate his game with technical changes.
The right-hander has averaged 81 this summer, and on Thursday became just the fourth Australian to post 30 Test tons while also becoming the country's fourth leading run-scorer.
Speaking on Friday morning, Smith moved to push away speculation that he could be playing his last Test on home soil.
"I was a little bit cryptic there," Smith told SEN.
"I am not going anywhere right now. I will tell you that.
"I am getting older and I will take it tour by tour. But I have no immediate plans to stop playing."
The former captain did, however, warn cricket's cluttered schedule could eventually push him into retirement and undo advances in sports science that prolong careers.
"There are all (those developments), but there is also probably a bigger schedule than there used to be as well," Smith said.
"You put the two together and they might cancel each other out. I'm not sure. Right now I am really happy. I have had a nice summer, I have enjoyed it.
"I have a few games of Big Bash after this which I will just chill out and enjoy. And then two important tours away (India and England) which I am looking forward to."
Smith's comments come after Australian legend Glenn McGrath said he did not expect the batter to walk away soon.
"I think Steve says that every year," McGrath told reporters.
"He's done incredibly well. You never know what's around the corner but he's in great form. I'm sure he'll play as long as he can and while he gets selected."
