Smith liberated by losing captaincy: Finch

The man who succeeded Steve Smith as Australia’s permanent one-day skipper believes the prolific batsman's removal from the captaincy has been a "weight off his shoulders" and a "relief" in the wake of his dominant return to Test cricket.

Aaron Finch, who led Smith in his recent World Cup comeback following his 12-month ban, lauded the run-machine's stunning re-entry to the Ashes fold, which reached even greater heights on Thursday with his third career double century.

Despite missing three opportunities to bat due to a bout of concussion, Smith is comfortably the Ashes' leading batter with 589 runs at an average of 147, with scores of 144, 142, 92 and 211.

It's a rampage that hasn't surprised Finch, who suggested the batsman's resumption of his international career in significantly altered circumstances has been liberating, rather than off-putting.

Asked if he's noticed differences in Smith, Finch told Triple M radio: "It's changed slightly since he's not been captain.

"In the World Cup and in the lead-up to that, he seemed to relax a lot more. It was almost a bit of a weight off his shoulders that he could just relax.

"The 12 months (away from the Australian team), as unfortunate as it was, it was probably little bit of a relief that he wasn't captaining the side every day. He seemed to free up and just be really comfortable with himself.

"Whether it was a few days off, he'd have a couple of beers and he'd just enjoy the company around him.

"It was probably a little different to when he was captain.

"He always felt like everyone was judging him and everything he did, and he had to represent all the players, and he couldn't be too close with some kinds of players.

"It was just a really nice way to see him come back into the game."

Questions over how Smith would fare after so long out of top-flight cricket lingered both before the World Cup and the Ashes.

But Finch insisted the right-hander reclaiming his mantle as one of the world's best (indeed, officially the best in the longest format per the ICC rankings after just two Tests back) wasn't in doubt.

Smith made a solid return to 50-over cricket, extending his terrific record in knockout matches with a crucial 85 in the semi-final against eventual champions England, without which Australia might have suffered an even more emphatic defeat.

"I was never concerned he wouldn't come back from it," said Finch, who has returned to Melbourne following a post-World Cup stint with English county side Surrey.

"He's the kind of player and the kind of guy who just doesn't carry any baggage innings to innings.

"Players in any sport, you feel as though the world is looking at you. But he just doesn’t feel that.

"It's the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen."

Finch confirmed Smith remains as eccentric away from the spotlight as he is at the batting crease, explaining that he would "walk around in his undies, playing shots in the mirror" instead of sleeping during the World Cup.

Smith himself has previously revealed Ricky Ponting, an assistant coach to the Aussies for the tournament, had heard him shadow batting in his hotel room from further down the corridor.

"He doesn't sleep because he's just too excited to bat," Finch continued. "He never has that fear of failure, which is the most extraordinary thing I've seen from a player.

"Guys get nervous because they're worried about failing. He gets nervous because he's so excited to dominate."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval