Adelaide:Veteran Australian cricketer Ian Chappell on Sunday accused former Aussie skipper Steve Smith of "white-anting" their current captain Tim Paine.
Smith captained the team before losing the position in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal last year. Chappell said the batting mainstay should not be as involved in field placements as he seemed to be on Monday when Australia wrapped the 2-0 series triumph.
"I tell you what I don't like to see, Steve Smith is moving a few fieldsmen around", Chappell told a leading Australia broadcaster.
"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," he added.
Ian Chappell accuses Steve Smith of "white-anting" captain Tim Paine
"I tell you what I don't like to see, Steve Smith is moving a few fieldsmen around", Chappell said.
Ian Chappell
David Warner's 335 was the highlight of Australia's victory here.
Chappell said Smith's conduct amounted to "white-anting" Paine. White-anting is an Australian term to describe action which seeks to bring down from within.
"England used to do it a bit, blokes other than the captain and I always felt it was white-anting the captain," he said.
Smith was banned from Australia's captaincy for two years due to his role in the ball-tampering scandal and will be eligible for the role in April next year.