Steve Smith has denied claims that he is ‘white-anting’ Australia captain Tim Paine.
Former Aussie captain Ian Chappell suggested that Smith had been moving fielders around during the second Test against Pakistan in Adelaide despite Paine being the man in control.
“I tell you what I don’t like to see, Steve Smith is moving a few fieldsmen around,” Chappell said on Macquarie Sports Radio.
“He did have a chat with Tim Paine, trying to talk Tim Paine into moving a fielder on the off-side, but I’m not sure Tim Paine moved him as far as Steve Smith wanted.
“Steve Smith started moving him, I hate to see that.
“England used to do it a bit, blokes other than the captain and I always felt it was white-anting the captain.”
However, Smith insists he is simply lending a helping hand to Paine and has is not in the position to overthrow the skipper.
“I only try to help Tim as much as I can,” was Smith's response on Channel 9.
“He’s doing a terrific job. I give him suggestions and things like that.
“I only want the team to do well, I’m certainly not undermining him.”
Smith missed out with the bat in the two-Test series against Pakistan, scoring just 4 and 36 in his two knocks, but that did not stop Australia executing two comfortable innings victories.
The first Test against New Zealand begins in Perth on Thursday, December 12.