Steve Smith will ensure Australia are cohesive and calm when they visit India next year in what looms as the biggest threat to their No.1 Test ranking.

That is the opinion of Glenn Maxwell, who says skipper Smith is more of a people person than predecessor Michael Clarke.

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Maxwell endured an unpleasant introduction to Test cricket in 2013 during the infamous 'homeworkgate' series against India.

It was a low point for Australian cricket, a shambolic 4-0 series loss with bizarre suspensions that left players disenchanted and led to coach Mickey Arthur's sacking.

It remains to be seen how Australia handle the spin-friendly decks they will encounter in 2017.

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But Maxwell, likely to be part of Australia's squad, is certain the touring party will be better placed to thrive.

"I don't think there will be any panic. There was a fair bit of panic in 2013," Maxwell told AAP.

"It will be a little bit more relaxed and a bit more calm. When there are on-field or off-field issues, they'll be dealt with a lot better.

"Everyone understands that now. It makes it a lot more easy to act like an adult if you get treated like one."

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The impact Darren Lehmann has had on the side in all three formats since being appointed coach on the eve of the 2013 Ashes is well known.

Bur Maxwell suggested Smith also deserves praise for helping ease any tension that crops up.

"Steve is quite laidback. He doesn't shy away from asking anyone to come to the bar for a drink, talk about the game or just chill out," Maxwell said.

"He gets his back up when we aren't playing well and gives a decent spray but he's very outgoing and still one of the boys.

"Whereas I think Clarke was the ultimate professional, tactically brilliant and everyone looked up to him.

"But he didn't really have that same personal side. For me as a young person, I sort of felt like he wanted to keep himself as the captain and make sure people knew that."

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The allrounder added Clarke nonetheless did a fine job as captain.

"His record was ridiculous," he said. "Cameron White was very similar at the start of his career and got amazing results for Victoria.

"There's no right or wrong way to go about it, they're all just trying to get the best out of people in different ways ... and you still see bits of 'Pup' (Clarke) in Steve as well."

Maxwell wasn't one of the four players suspended for failing to submit written feedback to Arthur.

But the 27-year-old's feelings on the saga are forthright.

"Other than making my debut and taking my first wicket, I try to forget most of the other things about that tour," Maxwell said. "It was a bit of a disaster.

"It felt like everyone was sort of walking on eggshells. It wasn't enjoyable."

Maxwell was dropped for the Test that the 'Mohali four' of Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja were made unavailable for.

Having just been Australia's leading wicket-taker on Test debut, the decision rankled.

"I'd given everything. Took four-for and felt like I got better the more I bowled, so to get dropped hurt a fair bit," he said.

"It was tough to deal with, especially then coming back for the last Test when I felt I didn't deserve to play."

Maxwell opened both the batting and the bowling under Watson's captaincy in the second innings of that fourth Test.

"It was just a strange time," he recalled.