Graeme Smith was always going to find it difficult to mould the superstars of cricket into a fighting unit for the Super Series Test against Australia.
If the 210-run loss at the world champions' hands was not evidence enough of the disparity in the side, reports confirm that the South African captain was given a tough time by some of the senior teammates.
The Brisbane based Courier-Mail reported that India's Virender Sehwag and Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq mocked at Smith during the Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
'During the match, when Smith tried to urge his players with a routine "come on boys", Inzamam and Virender Sehwag, another limp performer off the field who reportedly gave nothing to the side, started laughing,' the newspaper reported.
It listed an incident when Smith had to confront his 'large teammate with an even larger ego.'
'At training two days before the Super Test the players lined up for slips training with Smith in his customary position at first slip, where he is regarded as one of the world's best catchers.
'Over walked the imposing figure of Pakistan captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq.
"I'm first slip," said Inzamam.
"No we have already decided that I will be. You're third," said Smith.
"But I only field first slip," said Inzamam.
"You're third," Smith replied.
'The big man spun on his heel and reluctantly walked over to third. When he dropped an early ball he left the ground immediately to sulk in the dressing room and did not return.'
It was also reported that some of the World XI team members were not impressed by their actions.
'The World XI project was surrounded by so much puff and promotion about how well the players liked and respected each other that it masked the fact that some players chosen had little time for each other.
'For all the talk of harmony, the team never really bonded, and that was the way they played,' the report concluded.
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