Smith hits back at ex-Protea skipper

Steve Smith has hit back at criticism of the culture of the Australian cricket team his side prepares for the second Test against South Africa.

Responding to claims from former South African captain Graeme Smith that his side wasn't up for the fight, the Australia skipper has questioned his namesake's right to make such a call.

"I'm not sure what Graeme Smith knows about Australian cricket," he said on Friday.

Quick Single: Test greats split over Smith's leadership

Graeme Smith, who captained South Africa in 108 Tests, said Australia had found itself in an interesting position after four-straight Test losses, including the latest 177-run caning at the WACA.

"If I think about earlier years it was always built on respect and the value of the baggy green," the South African said this week.

"Maybe players didn't always get on but they respected the environment and they were traditional and they understood the importance of what playing for Australia meant."

But the Australia captain insists his side is where it needs to be despite the losing sequence.

"I think the team's in a good place at the moment," the 27-year-old said.

"We've got a good culture built on constant improvement and getting better.

"The guys are in a good place, we're a tight-knit group and we're ready to hopefully turn this around this week."

Quick Single: Voges in, Marsh no certain starter

Faf du Plessis, who's standing in as the Proteas Test captain with regular skipper AB de Villiers absent with an elbow injury, didn't want to wade into the debate.

"I don't know too much about it," du Plessis said on Friday. "I'm always of the position if you don't know what's exactly going on inside anything you can't comment on it.

"I definitely can't comment on the Australian culture (but) from the outside it looks the same as always."

Smith had enjoyed a dream run as captain since his full-time appointment in late 2015 but he is feeling the pressure and even former Australian spin star Shane Warne questioned the sparing use of tweaker Nathan Lyon in Perth.

"Warney's entitled to his opinion, but I stand by the way I did things," Smith said.

"We saw in that (Perth) game that the reverse swing was the biggest player in the game and it was the decision to be made about whether the quicks were going to do the job and get the ball reversing.

"When we put the ball in Lyono's hands the ball softened and got a bit wet on one of the sides and that really hinders what you are really trying to do."