Cricket: Smith downplays Warne's criticism of coach

Australian cricket legend Shane Warne, right, talks to Steve Smith. Photo / Getty Images

Claims by Shane Warne that Darren Lehmann is overstepping the mark as Australian coach have been shrugged off by Steve Smith.

Spin legend Warne became the talking point following Australia's washed-out World Cup clash with Bangladesh in Brisbane on Saturday after surprisingly taking aim at his good mate Lehmann.

Warne began a radio interview talking up the importance of Australian captain Michael Clarke, whose comeback from hamstring surgery was postponed by torrential rain at the Gabba without a ball bowled.

But Warne also inferred that Lehmann should not undermine the skipper, hinting that it was the coach and not interim captain Smith who called a controversial declaration during the Boxing Day Test against India.

"He's (Lehmann) got to be a little bit careful that he's got to stop walking out on the MCG and declaring," Warne told 2GB.

"He's got to remember that's the captain's job, not the coach's job.

"The captain is in charge and it's something Australian cricket has to look at with the way they want to do things."

But Smith insisted he made the Boxing Day Test declaration, a call that was criticised for coming too late in the ultimately drawn match.

"Yeah I (made the call)," Smith said.

"I think Boof was sitting on the sideline where he tends to sit here and there to watch the cricket.

"I was up the top (in the stands) trying to call the guys in but they couldn't see me.

"He (Lehmann) kind of said 'look up there' and called them in.

"They showed him on the TV doing it but I was actually at the top doing it."

Asked if Lehmann's coaching style was destabilising for a captain, Smith said: "No I don't think so.

"Everyone who was playing that Test match knew what was going on.

"I think Boof (Lehmann) has done a terrific job around the group as coach."

Smith said Lehmann did not step on toes as coach.

"It is exclusively up to the captain what happens out there (on the field)," he said.

"In breaks of play in Test matches he gives a bit of (advice) on what he thinks we can do in the next session and that kind of thing.

"But the captain is the one who runs the ship."

Warne's comments came a week after the leggie claimed Cricket Australia (CA) tried to "break" Clarke with a tight fitness deadline.

Clarke had to prove his fitness by the Cup clash with Bangladesh or be cut from the World Cup.

Warne's latest outburst may scupper CA high performance chief Pat Howard's mooted plan to bring the ex-leggie into the team support staff.

Meanwhile, Clarke looks set to make his comeback against a red hot New Zealand at Auckland on Saturday.

A loss will all but book second spot in the pool and a less desirable quarter-final showdown with the unpredictable West Indies, reigning champions India or early favourites South Africa.

Australia fly to New Zealand on Sunday.

-AAP

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