Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne has revealed that Steve Smith contacted him after the former disagreed with the batsman returning to a leadership role. Incidentally, Smith was appointed Pat Cummins’ deputy after Tim Paine stepped down as Australia’s Test captain due to an off-field scandal.

Speaking late on day one on Fox Cricketafter Australia knocked over England for 147 inside two sessions, Shane reiterated he would have opted to go for a clean slate, before revealing Smith contacted him to question his public disapproval.

Australia’s leading Test wicket-taker said:

“I spoke to Steve Smith. He messaged me and said, ‘Jeez, you’re a bit harsh on me aren’t you’ and we talked it out. That’s what respect does.

“Just because someone doesn’t like your opinion doesn’t mean you have to get nasty and personal about it. Everyone’s allowed to have their opinion. Just because you don’t agree with it,” he added. 

Meanwhile, earlier, Shane Warne had stated that he doesn’t agree with Steve Smith being the vice-captain. Incidentally, Smith was the captain of the side before the infamous sandpaper gate scandal in 2018.

Citing that incident, Warne asserted that Smith doesn’t deserve to be in any leadership position.

“They won’t make Steve Smith captain, they can’t do that, I wouldn’t have thought they’ll do that,” Warne told foxsports.com.au.

“I don’t agree with him being vice-captain, I just don’t agree with that. I think how can a captain on his watch (allow) Sandpaper Gate (to) happen and a player like David Warner, who has got the best cricket brain, suddenly never be able to be a leader but the captain, where it happened on his watch, is allowed to become the vice-captain. It doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever,” he added. 

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Pat Cummins hacks England’s batting with a fifer

5️⃣🇦🇺#Ashes pic.twitter.com/jwPdOAigTG

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2021

Pat Cummins produced a superlative effort with the ball in his first Test as captain to bowl out England for 147 runs on day 1 of the first Test at the Gabba.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood also made useful contributions picking up two wickets apiece before rain played a spoilsport on day 1 in Brisbane.