Australia's dressing room culture is stronger and more democratic under new skipper Steve Smith than predecessor and comeback aspirant Michael Clarke, paceman John Hastings says.
The burly Victorian stopped short of criticising Clarke's leadership, but said with more "strong-headed" personalities in the frame at the time, including his former captain and star batsmen Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, he was less likely to speak up in team meetings.
"I don't know whether it's because I was younger, I was a bit more afraid to speak my mind," Hastings, who played under Clarke in his only Test match against South Africa in 2012, told RSN radio on Thursday.
Under Smith, however, open communication and honesty are encouraged.
"For me it's brilliant. I can just go in and no question's too dumb," Hastings said.
"If you think you've seen something on the field, you bring it up."
Clarke will line up for his first match of Sydney grade cricket on Saturday after giving up the game last year.
But he appears to be angling his comeback more towards lucrative T20 contracts than a return to the Test fray.
Hastings also attributed the positive vibes in the national side to the current crop being well-acquainted, having come though the ranks together.
"These guys who are playing now have played together through under-19 World Cups," he said.
"They've played against each other. They've played with each other.
"It's actually a really close group of friends as well."
But Hastings acknowledged the team would need to "gel" ahead of the T20 World Cup in India.
He said a series of warm-up games in South Africa would be used to "get the winning feeling back" after the side was humbled 3-0 by India in the recent T20 series at home.
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