Captaincies rarely end well. Kim Hughes finished in tears, Allan Border quit on a Brisbane golf course, Steve Waugh's came after a summer-long farewell tour that rankled some. Ricky Ponting's last Test was a humiliating innings defeat that consigned Australia to its first Ashes loss at home in 24 years. Smith's predecessor Michael Clarke pulled the pin after the Trent Bridge drubbing. Any one of those scenarios would be better than the mess Smith now finds himself in. His finances will take a hit but that's loose change compared to what has been taken away. The job he covets is gone, so too the chance to wear the baggy green for a significant period. Loading Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said Smith was "distraught, very upset". Sources close to the team say he has apologised to teammates for his poor choice of words in that infamous press conference. Their overriding feeling towards him is one of sympathy. They have reached out but Smith spent much of his time after the Test in his room. It's said the eyes are the window to the soul. Smith has not given us that access. He has not needed to. He has never been one who could hide his emotions. Those on the plane to Johannesburg said he wore his sunglasses the whole flight.

Crestfallen: Steve Smith The last time Smith played South Africa was said to be the making of him as a leader. In hindsight it has proven to be the start of his downfall. Embarrassed by another heavy defeat, Smith called for drastic change. He wanted players who were "willing to get into the contest". Symbolically, Matthew Wade was brought in to provide more presence at the expense of Peter Nevill, who was not noted for his talk. The team toughened up. They gave as good as they got in a spiteful series in India where a belligerent Virat Kohli set the standard for poor behaviour. But it was David Warner's sudden change from The Reverend to The Bull that Smith ultimately could not tame.

Being the less experienced one, Smith had no personal authority over Warner. Credit:AP Unlike the rest of his team, Smith did not have the personal authority over Warner. Warner was nearly three years his senior with a record that until only recently rivalled Smith's. Managing players was not his strongest suit, leading from the front through weight of runs was. An angry Warner had its benefits heading into an Ashes summer, one finished with a marquee series in South Africa. It gave his team the presence and aggression that was missing the last time he had faced the Proteas, though it's hard to see how blood and bile could have averted any of Australia's spectacular batting collapses. Loading Warner's destructive behaviour came with Smith vulnerability. For the first time in a long time, Smith was down on runs and the series was slipping away with another heavy defeat beckoning.