I am not in a bad place at captaincy: Steve Smith

TIL Desk Sports/ Ahead of his 100th One-Day International (ODI) at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday, Australia skipper Steve Smith reacted his predecessor Michael Clarke’s remark that his leadership is being challenged, saying he is not “in a bad place” at the moment.

“I don’t think I am in a bad place in my captaincy. Obviously, results haven’t been as we liked for a little while and that’s something we are trying to rectify. Guys are working hard and are ensuring that the job is done out there,” Smith told reporters before the second ODI.

As captain of the ODI side, the 28-year old has won 23 matches and lost 16 in the 42 games he was in-charge so far between 2015-2017. Compared to Clarke, who captained Australia between 2008-2015, in white-ball cricket, Smith’s winning percentage is 58.97 to the former’s 70.42.

Clarke on Tuesday had said Smith’s captaincy is “being challenged” and that he needs to find a way to win cricket matches. The Aussies are trailing 0-1 in the five-match series and have not been in good form lately bowing out in the group stages of the ICC Champions Trophy.