The former Australian captain has refocused the final stage of his career on a return to the T20I side and Olympic gold in 2028.
Smith opened the batting for his newest employers Welsh Fire, a role he has fulfilled with distinction for Big Bash League side Sydney Sixers over the last three seasons with three hundreds and three further half-centuries from ten appearances.
The 36-year-old scored a brisk 29 from 18 balls to help his side to a hundred-ball score of 9/143, albeit one that was not nearly enough to challenge Northern Superchargers (2/147 from 89 balls).
His brief innings came to a close when, in an audacious attempt to reverse ramp English fast bowler Matthew Potts, he was bowled between his legs during the 37th ball of the innings.
But Smith showed that classic cricket shots still have a place in the shorter formats, using his feet nimbly to make space for this breathtaking open-shouldered cover drive off the bowling of Pakistani franchise mercenary Imad Wasim.
Smith had been signed by Welsh Fire to take part in the inaugural Hundred competition before the Covid pandemic put those plans to bed, but his retirement from ODIs post-2025 ICC Champions Trophy and omission from Australia's T20I squad to take on South Africa in the top end this month has freed up some time and energy to devote to the franchise competitions of the northern hemisphere.
Whilst he couldn't continue his involvement with Major League Cricket due to Australia's mid-year three-Test tour of the Caribbean, the USA is where he wants to bow out of international cricket.
"I would like to play at the Olympics," Smith told Fox Cricket back in January. "I reckon that would be cool."
He expanded on those comments ahead of his Hundred debut to ESPNCricinfo, telling Matt Roller that his ODI retirement grants him "some opportunities to be able to play in some different tournaments and keep trying to put my best foot forward to get back into the T20 team for Australia.
"Hopefully, I can send (Australia head coach Andrew McDonald) quite a few texts throughout this month of August. It'd be nice to smash a few around the park and send off a text and ask him whether he saw it."
Smith's affinity for the United States continues to grow with his wife and beloved pet dog based in New York City during the Australian winter, where he has spent some time working on his post-career business interests following some successful investments in Australia, such as $100,000 to purchase 10% of mattress manufacturer Koala which in March was seeking a $500m debut valuation on the ASX.
It's therefore likely that Smith's future is in great hands, whatever comes next on the cricket field, but we can now expect that the 15th man to reach 10,000 Test runs will be pursuing white ball greatness in the final stages of his playing life.
