• England captain says everyone in tourists’ camp would disagree with Ponting • Root confirms ‘feisty’ Tom Curran will start Boxing Day Test against Australia

Joe Root has dismissed Ricky Ponting’s suggestion that he has looked like a “little boy” leading England in the Ashes.

Root acknowledges the former Australia captain’s entitlement to his opinion but points out Ponting has no inside-track on the touring squad.

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The Yorkshireman, who has also confirmed “feisty” Tom Curran will make his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, insists he will continue to lead England as he sees fit and in a manner true to himself.

Ponting caused a stir between Tests, after England lost the Ashes with a crushing innings defeat in Perth last week, when he depicted Root as a “little boy” who needs to “step up big time” and has little respect from his own squad.

Root said: “He’s entitled to his opinion but he doesn’t spend any time in our dressing room or around the squad. I’m obviously going to disagree with that. I’m sure if you asked any of the guys in the camp, the coaches or support staff or players, they would back me up on that.”

Root is confident he is more than capable of taking a firm hand if necessary. “I don’t think I go about things as a ‘little boy’, for sure,” he said. “I have my own way of doing things – I think it’s important you don’t try to be something you’re not.

“I know there are occasions where you might have to be quite strong in front of the group. I may not appear to do that out on the field. But there are certainly times when I know that I can do that, and I have done that.”

The seam-bowling all-rounder Curran, meanwhile, will replaced the injured Craig Overton in Melbourne. Asked the reasons Curran got the nod, Root said: “Tom offers a lot – he’s a real competitor. He’s always wanting to get in the contest, and you know you’re always going to get absolutely everything out of him. He’s also very skilful.”

The 22-year-old is the South Africa-born son of the late former Zimbabwe, Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire all-rounder Kevin Curran.

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Root added: “He’s a feisty character. He does get the ball to move around a little bit, and he’s always in there in the contest. That’s one thing that really stands out to me: that he will at no point hide away from any challenge.”

Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, has said he may have to play through a little discomfort after being hit on the hand during net practice.

Smith took the unlucky blow to his right hand on Christmas Eve, in bizarre circumstances, after a shot from the opener Cameron Bancroft somehow found its way out of his net and ricocheted in the direction of his captain, who was waiting to bat. Smith has scored 426 runs at an average of 142 in a prolific series.

“It was a little bit sore [at Christmas Day net practice], playing a few different shots,” he said. “But I’ll be able to deal with it and I’ll get on with it. Maybe I’ll just have to use a bit more of my top hand throughout the game – a bit less wristy.”

Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, has confirmed he will leave the post following the Ashes series in England in 2019. The former Test batsman’s deal is due to run out in October 2019.