‘Got to be careful’: Michael Clarke’s captaincy warning for Steve Smith

The vacant Aussie captaincy appears to be a two-horse race but Michael Clarke has given Steve Smith a reality check before the final call.

Steve Smith has been given a reality check. Photo: Getty Images

Australia is set to make a call on the next Test captain in the wake of Tim Paine’s sexting scandal and subsequent resignation, but Steve Smith has copped a brutal reality check when it comes to his own leadership ambitions.

Paine only came into the top job after Smith was suspended for a year following the Cape Town ball tampering scandal. But now the wicketkeeper has stood down, it’s cleared the path for Smith to return to the leadership group.

Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

According to reports, he is expected to be named Australia’s vice-captain, with fast bowler Cummins to take over from Paine. If Cummins is appointed skipper, he would become Australia’s first bowler to be named captain since Richie Benaud and first paceman to lead the side since Ray Lindwall in the 1950s.

Earlier this week, news.com.au readers made their voices clear in a poll, with 45 per cent of nearly 96,000 readers believing Smith should take the reins, compared to 34 per cent in favour of Cummins.

Smith has said publicly he would be keen to captain Australia again but the man he took over from in 2015, Michael Clarke, has delivered a warning for the prolific batsman.

If Smith does become vice-captain for this summer’s Ashes series, then Clarke says he needs to be careful not to take too much control with field settings and the like, otherwise people might accuse him of overshadowing Cummins.

“He’s got to be careful Smithy, because he copped some criticism for doing that when Tim Paine took over the captaincy as well,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“That he was standing in slip waving his hands, moving the field. If he is vice-captain or even if he is not, he has got to be very careful. There can only be one captain on the field.

“That is what leadership is about as well, owning that. If it is Pat Cummins, he can take advice and guidance but then it’s up to him to be making the decisions.”

Smith was slammed by former skipper Ian Chappell of “white-anting” Paine in 2019 when he appeared to make fielding adjustments without speaking to the wicketkeeper.

Clarke added that Smith won’t be able to hide from the spotlight, as evidenced by the wave of condemnation that erupted over his crease-scuffing controversy last summer.

The NSW pair get thrown straight into the Ashes fire. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Smith was accused of “cheating” after shadow batting on the crease while Australia were in the field before re-marking centre, during the final Test against India in Sydney.

The former Aussie skipper stunned by the reaction and questions about his integrity and admitted he could barely sleep after the game.

Clarke said the scrutiny would be so much worse if he was in a leadership position.

“I don’t think Steve Smith understands how extreme it is going to be,” Clarke said

“He got a tiny glimpse of it last summer against India when he scuffed the pitch and was called the biggest cheat on the planet. I don’t think he understands how heavy it is going to be on him.

“Since he’s come back, he’s helped this team win so many games of cricket. He has played a leadership role in the team and is doing a brilliant job.

“I think he can help the team more by supporting if it is Pat Cummins, scoring a truckload of runs and helping Australia win games.”

Clarke was also in Paine’s corner. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

His comments about Smith come after Clarke defended Paine on Wednesday, saying he was being held to unrealistic expectations.

“Go back in my time even to Ricky Ponting. If that’s the case, he never would have captained Australia,” Clarke said. “He had a punch up in the middle of a (Kings Cross nightclub) Bourbon & Beefsteak. Are you not going to give him the job because of that?

“He’s a great example. He’s shown you how time, experience, maturity, playing at the highest level and even the captaincy turned him around.

“Where is the backing of the player as well? You’ll be looking for 15 years (if you want a captain who hasn’t done something wrong), we won’t have a captain.”