Steve Smith has been slammed by a former Aussie Test cricket captain

Already under-fire over his move to opener, Steve Smith has been slammed for another issue out in the middle by a former Aussie captain.

While Steve Smith has another nine months to wait to try to prove himself as an opener, the superstar is now facing heat for another reason.

Smith’s own call to shift up the order to replace Dave Warner was met with a mixed response and he is yet to convince critics it was the right move.

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The 34-year-old has a top-score of 91 not out, but overall his average from four Tests atop the order is just 28.5, almost exactly half his current career average of 56.97.

The Aussies have no more Test cricket until welcoming India to town for five matches in December, but Smith is now finding himself under the microscope for a different reason, his use of video referrals.

Smith’s decision-making out in the middle are under the microscope. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

According to cricket stats guru Lawrie Colliver, who works for Fox Cricket and the Australian Cricket Digest, Smith has only got two of his last 14 reviews correct.

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes had a blunt reply when asked about Smith’s lack of reviewing success by The Daily Telegraph.

“He’s been an amazing player, but to me he’s become very selfish,” Hughes said.

“A number of times I’ve seen him review without even consulting his teammate at the other end.

“You don’t do that unless you know for sure that you’ve nicked it.

“You only get three reviews. If you chew up one early on, you might need it later on.”

Hughes feels Smith doesn’t always get the help of his teammates with reviews. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The Barmy Army mock Steve Smith by signalling a review during the Ashes. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Earlier in the Australian summer, specialist opening batters like Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris were being mooted as the likely replacements for the retiring Warner.

Smith’s potential switch came out of left field and was driven by the 109-Test veteran himself.

Hughes, 70, a staunch West Australian and veteran of 70 Tests in the 1970s and 80s, believes selectors should have rebuffed Smith’s advances.

“Maybe the selectors should have been stronger,” Hughes said.

“They should have said to Steve, when he put his hand up to open, that Cameron Bancroft was the best option.

“It’s sending a bad message to every Sheffield Shield cricketer in Australia when the best available player isn’t being chosen.”

Former Australian cricketer Kim Hughes feels selectors are sending the wrong message. Photo: Danielle Gusmaroli

WA star Cameron Bancroft has been left in the national team wilderness. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Smith’s efforts in the recent two-Test series against New Zealand, a total of just 51 runs with the bat, compared poorly even to bowlers Nathan Lyon (66 runs) and Pat Cummins (79).

Lyon’s effort even came in one less innings, after he didn’t bat in the successful run chase in the second Test.

Former Australian cricketer Xavier Doherty is one that thinks the experiment hasn’t worked and Smith is a much better option back at No. 4.

“I honestly think that Steve Smith in the middle order makes this batting order so much better,” Doherty said after day three of the second Test on ABC Grandstand.

“There are more questions than answers at the moment, but there were a lot of people that didn’t like Steve Smith opening the batting, and I’m starting to head that way.”

Former Australian captain Tim Paine agreed.

“To me, it looks a better side with (Smith) at No. 4,” he told SEN.

“Maybe it’s time to go to the specialist opener because we’ve seen Steve get out to balls he doesn’t usually get out to.”

Originally published as Steve Smith has been slammed by a former Aussie Test cricket captain