6 instances when Steven Smith's leadership came under scrutiny

#5 Smith vs Maxwell, 2018

Steve Smith publicly criticized Glenn Maxwell after the latter's axing from the ODI team earlier this year

It was widely reported that not all was well between Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, when the latter found himself dropped from the ODI side for the series against England which followed the Ashes. Australia lost the series 1-4 and Smith was criticized heavily for Maxwell's non-selection.

Smith’s candid words in a press conference about his desire to see Maxwell ‘train smarter’ to get back his place in the team was criticized by many former Australian players and captains such as Steve Waugh. When Maxwell returned for the T20I tri-series that followed and scored an unbeaten 100 in one of the games against England, Smith tweeted in appreciation of his knock. That seemed to irk the public, most of whom had seen him plunder runs in the Ashes but not in the ODIs.