Clarke the ultimate professional, but Smith's more laid-back: Maxwell

Clarke the ultimate professional, but Smith's more laid-back: Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell, Australia all-rounder, has revealed innate differences in the leadership styles of Australia captain Steve Smith and his predecessor Michael Clarke. The 27-year-old, who is playing for the Kings XI Punjab in the current Indian Premier League (IPL), believes Smith was more affable and approachable than Clarke, whose captaincy reign from 2011-15 was stymied at times by a lack of cohesion within the team. 

After a rollercoaster period during Clarke's tenure, Australian cricket has been rejuvenated under the leadership of Smith and there is a prevailing positive feeling emanating from the camp. Australia has not lost a Test in 11 matches (including seven wins) under Smith, but did endure a disappointing T20 WC campaign exiting in the Super 10 stage. 

"Steve is quite laid back. He doesn't shy away from asking anyone to come to the bar for a drink, talk about the game or just chill out," Maxwell toldAustralian Associated Press. "He gets his back up when we aren't playing well and gives a decent spray but he's very outgoing and still one of the boys.

"Whereas, I think Clarke was the ultimate professional, tactically brilliant and everyone looked up to him. But he didn't really have that same personal side. For me as a young person, I sort of felt like he wanted to keep himself as the captain and make sure people knew that. There's no right or wrong way to go about it, they're all just trying to get the best out of people in different ways... and you still see bits of 'Pup' (Clarke) in Steve as well."

Maxwell also opened up about Australia's disastrous tour of India in 2013, where they were embarrassingly whitewashed in the four-Test series, starting the downfall for Australia's then coach Mickey Arthur, who was axed several months later on Ashes eve in England. Australia's tour was engulfed by the humiliating 'homeworkgate' scandal, where four players were suspended for failing to do a team task assigned by Arthur. 

"There was a fair bit of panic in 2013... it will be a little bit more relaxed and a bit more calm," Maxwell said of Australia's next tour of India, scheduled next year. "When there are on-field or off-field issues, they'll be dealt with a lot better. Everyone understands that now. It makes it a lot more easy to act like an adult if you get treated like one."

Maxwell was dropped for the Third Test that Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja were all suspended for. It was a surprising decision considering Maxwell was Australia's leading wicket-taker with 4-127 in their innings and 135-run defeat in the preceding Test. Maxwell was recalled for the fourth and final Test and, bizarrely, opened the batting and bowling in the second innings. In Australia's first innings, Maxwell batted at No.7. 

"Other than making my debut and taking my first wicket, I try to forget most of the other things about that tour," Maxwell said. "It was a bit of a disaster. It felt like everyone was sort of walking on eggshells. It wasn't enjoyable. I'd given everything. Took four-for and felt like I got better the more I bowled, so to get dropped hurt a fair bit. It was tough to deal with, especially then coming back for the last Test when I felt I didn't deserve to play. It was just a strange time."

Maxwell has only played one Test since, against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in late 2014, but hopes a stellar IPL could be the catalyst for selection in Australia's squad for their tour of Sri Lanka in July. 

"I'd love to be on that tour. It's one that I've looked at with a lot of interest," Maxwell said. "I was ready for the postponed tour of Bangladesh last year and I certainly feel as ready I can be for Sri Lanka."