It has come to this.

An Australian cricketer has been forced to defend himself against the most heinous charge imaginable: being friendly to an opposition player.

The victim of this outrageous accusation was none other than Steve Smith, the man who has been texta-d in as the next Australian skipper.

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Of course that bright future would be in grave danger if it could be proved that he had breached the most sacred duty of a custodian of the baggy green cap – treat the opposition with hostility at all times.

Smith was told to zip it by Clarke after being seen talking to Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali at the non-striker’s end during the opening day of the second Test during the recent series in the UAE.

Not so, insisted Smith on Monday.

The middle order batsman explained that he was actually trying to unsettle Ali rather than have a friendly chat with the batsman.

“I was actually getting into him,” Smith said.

“So it (the spray from Clarke) wasn’t what I expected, but that happens I guess.

“We like to play good, hard, tough, aggressive cricket when we’re out in the field. That’s the way we like to play, so we’ll continue to do that.”

It is 25 years since ‘Captain Grumpy’ Allan Border turned up in the Old Dart with a ‘no talkies’ policy, shocking an English side led by his old mate David Gower, and nicked off with the Ashes.

Unpleasantness has been an Australian byword ever since, not least when Michael Clarke was caught on audio last year telling England quick James Anderson to “get ready to have your f—ing arm broken”.

The friction even continued between Australian skippers past and present on Monday, with former captain Ian Chappell letting fly at Clarke over his management of the side.

Chappell, speaking at the Channel Nine season launch, questioned if Clarke had any idea about formulating a successful batting order.

“The problem with Michael Clarke is his inability to visualise a batting order,” Chappell said.

“I’m not sure he knows, or he doesn’t understand, how important a batting order is.

“If you have a side that (Australia) was like in the 1990s and early 2000s, it didn’t matter which order you bat them in.

“But if you have a side that is struggling with its batting line-up, you better get them in the right order.

“I can’t believe the quote from Michael the other day, when he was asked about Shane Watson batting in the top order or top three, he said: ‘I’m not so sure about the top order’.

“Shane Watson, as far as I’m concerned, is top three.”

The No.3 batting position has been a problem for Australia since Ricky Ponting retired in 2012.

In the recent 2-0 series loss to Pakistan, Australia started with Alex Doolan, but replaced him with Glenn Maxwell. Neither reached 50 in four innings.

Steve Smith had been slated as an alternative No.3, but Clarke described this as “a fantasy”.

Smith was a rare shining light, scoring two half-centuries, including 97 in the second Test.

He will be back in action this Friday when he lines up for Australia in the opening one-day clash with South Africa at the WACA Ground.

Star Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy will miss the five-match series due to a long-standing knee injury that flared up during his team’s series-deciding T20 loss to Australia on Sunday.

Duminy has been replaced by Farhaan Behardien, while fast bowler Marchant de Lange has also been called up.

Smith said the one-day series would give players a chance to cement their spot in the side ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Smith has enjoyed most of his success batting at No.5, and he said he wasn’t bothered where he bats in the order.

“For me, it’s about batting wherever I am told and trying to get as many runs and win games for Australia as I can.”

And sledging, of course.

– with AAP