Australian batsman Steven Smith has shrugged off Shane Warne's criticism of Darren Lehmann after the spin legend claimed that the coach is overstepping the mark of his duties.
Warne surprisingly took aim at his good mate Lehmann following Australia's washed-out World Cup clash with Bangladesh in Brisbane on Saturday. Warne talked about the importance of Australian captain Michael Clarke, whose comeback from hamstring surgery was postponed by torrential rain at the Gabba without a ball bowled.
However, 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, Stuff.co.nzreported.
Warne said over the radio that Lehmann's got to be a little bit careful that he's got to stop walking out on the MCG and declaring, insisting that he has got to remember that's the captain's job, not the coach's job.
However, Smith insisted that he made the Boxing Day Test declaration, a call that was slammed for coming too late in the ultimately drawn match. Smith admitted that he made the call, adding that he believes Lehmann was sitting on the sideline where he tends to sit and watch the game.
Smith claimed that he was up the top in the stands trying to call the guys in but they couldn't see him, adding that Lehmann kind of said 'look up there' and called them in.
Smith also disagreed that Lehmann's coaching style was destabilising for a captain. He claimed that everyone who was playing that test match knew what was going on, adding that he believes Lehmann has done a terrific job around the group as coach.
Smith also said that Lehmann did not step on toes as coach, adding that it is exclusively up to the captain what happens out there on the field.