Steve Smith has slammed Glenn Maxwell's comments about Matthew Wade as "very disrespectful" as the Australian captain and fellow team leaders fined the mercurial all-rounder an undisclosed amount for his stunning remarks on Thursday.
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Maxwell - who - unsuccessfully sought a move from Victoria to NSW during the winter criticised his Bushrangers captain Wade on Thursday for the latter's decision to bat above Maxwell in Victoria's Sheffield Shield team this year, which Maxwell said had made his task to return to the Australian Test team harder.
Maxwell's comments have been widely scorned, and Smith added his name to the list of critics on Saturday as he spoke ahead of the first Chappell-Hadlee one-day international against New Zealand at the SCG on Sunday.
"Everyone was disappointed in his comments, I've expressed that to him myself, spoke to the team," Smith said.
"I guess one of our values is respect, and having respect for your teammates and your opposition, and your fans, your media.
“I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a teammate and his Victorian captain.
"So the leadership group got together and we decided to fine Glenn, we thought that was a sufficient punishment, so we've gone down that path."
"I guess one of our values is respect, and having respect for your teammates and your opposition, and your fans, your media.
- Australian captain Steve Smith
Smith said that Maxwell and Wade had cleared the air.
"Wadey was obviously pretty disappointed as well, like all of the other players.
"We've moved on from that now.
“It's about focusing on our game tomorrow."
Asked whether he would like to see Maxwell join his state, NSW star Smith said that was an issue for months down the track.
"I'm not really concerned with that right now, it's about getting through this season and if things happen like that at the end of the season we'll deal with that then, but my focus is purely on this one-day series at the moment."
Maxwell was controversially omitted from Victoria's Shield opener, and has batted below Wade since regaining his spot in the state team.
Wade was recalled to the Test side for the third Test against South Africa last month, and Maxwell said he had been denied the best chance of doing likewise because of his batting position.
"I think probably batting below the wicketkeeper is also a bit painful as well. I think the wicketkeeper should be batting at seven unless you're trying to squeeze an extra bowler into your line-up," Maxwell said.
Questioned why Wade was batting above him, Maxwell said: "I think because he's captain and he chooses the batting order."
MORE TO COME
The story, Glenn Maxwell fined by Australian leaders for comments about Matthew Wade, first appeared on the Sydney Morning Herald.