Smith breaks tradition in first Test

Australian skipper Steve Smith will break tradition in his first official Test in charge after announcing they will toast the Kiwis at the Gabba.

Australian captain Steve Smith.

Australia captain Steve Smith has broken tradition by inviting the Kiwis for a post-first Test beer. (AAP)

He ribs New Zealand for their "nice guy act".

But Australian captain Steve Smith could be accused of the same after breaking tradition in his first official Test in charge.

In a move that was mocked by his deputy David Warner barely 24 hours earlier, Smith says they have invited the Black Caps in for a post-first Test beer to honour the ANZAC spirit.

Smith officially takes over from Michael Clarke as Australian captain in the trans-Tasman three-Test series opener starting on Thursday at the Gabba.

And he has immediately broken the mould by marking Gallipoli's 100th anniversary with calling for post-Gabba Test dressing room beers.

Smith said it wasn't an olive branch to Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum after the pair had traded barbs in recent days.

The exchange came after McCullum labelled Smith "immature" for not retracting a controversial appeal as acting skipper during the 2015 Ashes series in England.

Smith said they cleared the air when they laid a wreath in Brisbane on Tuesday to honour the ANZACs.

"We are good. We had a little catch-up yesterday," Smith said.

"I think it is a very important Test match, celebrating 100 years of commemorating the ANZACs.

"We have invited them in for a drink after the game - it's going to be good to catch up."

Usually drinks between teams are held after a Test series - a point rammed home by Warner.

The Australian opener all but rolled his eyes when reminded of the Black Caps' polite approach, mocking their decision to invite England in for a dressing room drink earlier this year after each Test.

"They are the Mr Nice Guys. They invited England in for a beer which is something that is not really that common - you do it after the Test series," Warner said on Tuesday.

But Smith said Australia wouldn't be losing their hard edge on his watch.

"They have come over and they are playing that nice guy act again," Smith said of New Zealand.

"From my point of view ... we are not going to cross that line but we will continue to play the hard, aggressive brand that we play so well."

Smith said chatting with Major General Stephen Day during the wreath ceremony on Tuesday had ensured the ANZAC spirit was pumping through the Australian team ahead of the first Test.

"It was good for someone like him to give us a bit of a rev up before the game," Smith said.

McCullum said it would be business as usual despite copping flak for his newspaper column comments on Smith.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," McCullum said.

"At the time, that was what I felt. I wasn't trying to be righteous."

McCullum also wasn't changing their "world's politest team" approach.

"For a long time, we were searching for a bit of a soul about the team," McCullum said.

"Sledging has never worked for us.

"I can't say it would have sat the same way with previous eras but this current group, it (polite approach) sits very comfortably."


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Source: AAP


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