The Test that made me as skipper: Smith

Steve Smith has opened up about Australia's disastrous Test performance in Hobart last year, declaring the sobering experience has made him a superior leader.

Australia crashed to an innings and 80-run loss against a rampant South Africa in little more than two days last November, marking their fifth consecutive defeat and forcing a shake-up at the selection table.

All positions were under scrutiny at the time, with skipper Smith admitting he was "embarrassed to be sitting up here" in his post-match media conference.

"I need players that are willing to get in the contest and get in the battle and have some pride playing for Australia, some pride in the Baggy Green," the 28-year-old said.

"At the moment it is not good enough, I am quite sick of saying it to be honest with you.

"It's happened five Tests in a row now, we've lost five in a row and for an Australian cricket team that is humiliating."

After making five changes to their line-up, Australia responded by knocking off the Proteas in Adelaide and sweeping aside Pakistan 3-0.

A fighting 2-1 series loss and India and a 1-1 draw in Bangladesh have followed, Australia dropping to fifth in the ICC Test rankings ahead of this summer's Magellan Ashes against third-placed England.

While Smith's status as a great of the modern era is not in question – he averages a remarkable 59.66 from 56 Tests – he continues to develop as a leader, overseeing a transition period in Australian cricket with the likes of Matthew Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins in the infancy of their careers at Test level.

"One of my mentors, Brad Haddin, told a reporter after the home Test summer was wrapped up that he thought the Hobart loss was actually the making of me as a captain and I think he was right," Smith writes in his book The Journey, via an excerpt from News Ltd.

"I think it was the first time my teammates and the team management had seen – and heard – me not only speak my mind to that extent but also get a little emotional.

"… as hard as it was to take at the time, that defeat – coming off the back of losses in Sri Lanka and South Africa – helped me realise that captaincy was not just about making bowling changes and turning up for the toss.

"It was also about showing leadership with the bat and underlining to my teammates what was expected of them.

"It taught me to be more vocal about my feelings, and the way I handled the public scrutiny and the transition we went through gave me confidence to know I was capable of dealing with whatever the job could throw at me.

"What I said after the (Hobart) match, both to the media and afterwards to the players and support staff was unscripted and from the heart.

"… I opted for the media conference equivalent of 'See ball, hit ball', simply responding as truthfully as I could to everything that was put to me."

Smith has led Australia in 26 Test matches for 13 wins and five draws.

In recent years, Steve Waugh (71.92) and Ricky Ponting (62.33) have boasted greater winning percentages as at Test level, but Smith – who took over full-time from Michael Clarke in 2015 – has presided over a period of change.

Just two of Australia's incumbent top six – Smith and his deputy David Warner – have played more than 10 Tests, while questions continue to surround the No.6 and wicketkeeper positions leading into the Ashes. 

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21