Captain, not coach, runs ship: Smith

Australia’s Test skipper-in-waiting Steve Smith has become the latest to cast doubts on former champion leg-spinner Shane Warne’s commentary on internal team matters by disputing Warne’s central claim that team coach Darren Lehmann is exerting too much influence.

Warne, whose claim last week that the fitness deadline imposed on incumbent captain Michael Clarke was designed by Cricket Australia to “break” Clarke was dismissed as “absolute rubbish”, has launched another salvo at the Australia coach.

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Speaking on Sydney radio station 2GB’s ‘The All-Rounders’ program to fellow leggie Kerry O’Keeffe yesterday, Warne warned his former teammate and good friend Lehmann to be “careful” to remember that it is the captain not the coach who calls the on-field shots.

Warne went on to cite the example of last year’s Boxing Day Test against India, when he was seen waving Australia’s batsmen in after stand-in captain Smith had controversially deferred his team’s declaration on a rain-affected final day, as an example of Lehmann overstepping his role. 

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Smith in his first Test as captain // Getty Images

Warne pointed out that the team had been shaped under current captain Michael Clarke who had been in charge for more than two years before Lehmann was appointed coach in 2013.

“It was Michael Clarke who taught them how to win,” said Warne, a long-time friend of Clarke’s who he current Australia captain described last Friday as “a big supporter of mine”.

“Darren Lehmann has come in and put a bit of icing on the cake, he’s actually complemented Michael Clarke.

“He (Lehmann) has got to be a little bit careful that he’s got to stop walking out on the MCG and declaring.

“He’s got to remember that’s the captain’s job not the coach’s job.

“Darren Lehmann understands the game of cricket.

“He’s a good man manager, and he’s got to remember what it was like when he played and what the coaches were like.

“The captain is in charge and it’s something Australian cricket has to look at it with the way they want to do things – who is in charge.” 

Day five highlights of the Boxing Day Test

When asked today of his recollection of that final day of the MCG Test that ended in a draw, Smith explained that while Lehmann was seen to be signalling to last-wicket pair Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood that the belated declaration had been made, the decision had come from Smith.

“I think Boof (Lehmann) was sitting on the sideline where he tends to sit … to watch the cricket, and I was up the top (in the team viewing room) actually trying to call the guys in but they couldn't see me,” Smith said.

“He sort of just said ‘look up there he's calling them in’.

“They showed him on the TV actually doing it, but I was up the top doing it - it was me.”

Warne’s decision to air his views about Lehmann’s role and influence comes just days after the Australia coach labelled his former teammate’s claim that team officials were trying to “break” Clarke as “absolute rubbish”.

It also prompted Clarke to defend Warne by saying his comments had been taking out of context.

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Starc feeling the extreme heat in the first Test at the Gabba // Getty Images

It followed Warne’s on-air criticism of fast bowler Mitchell Starc’s “soft” body language and presence against opponents during the second Test against India in Brisbane, a judgement that prompted Lehmann to claim he would speak with Warne about his comments.

But in the wake of Warne’s latest input Smith claimed the comments were not destabilising and that everyone in the Australia dressing room was comfortable with the respective role of the team’s leaders.

“Everyone that was playing that Test (Boxing Day) match knew what was going on, knew that I'd made that declaration,” Smith said.

“I think Boof has done a terrific job around the group as coach, he's done an outstanding job getting all the players together.

“We're in a good place.”

And Smith, who captained Australia in three Commonwealth Bank Tests against India while Clarke was recovering from surgery to his injured right hamstring, defended Lehmann against accusations he is wielding too much influence and having input in areas that have traditionally been the captain’s domain.

“It's exclusively up to the captain what happens out there (on the field), Smith said.

“Your breaks in play and stuff throughout Test matches and all that kind of thing he comes and gives a bit of what he thinks we can do in the next session and that kind of thing.

“But the captain is the one that runs the ship."