Sydney, Jan. 3 -- Australian batter Steve Smith chose not to comment on Usman Khawaja's remarks at his retirement press conference about "feeling different in a lot of respects" but commented on criticism around Khawaja's preparation for the first Test in Perth, where he struggled with back spasms, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Khawaja has said he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney against England, beginning Sunday.

"I'm not going into the mind of Usman Khawaja. He's had a great career," Smith said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

"In terms of preparation, I think he's always prepared the same way. He's worked hard. Some of the stuff around him getting injured when he played golf the day before the game...