Australia cricket captain Steve Smith believes he must improve his body language on the field as he gears up for one of the biggest challenges of his captaincy in the five-test Ashes series against England.

Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh said recently that, with television cameras fixed on him, the 28-year-old had to keep his emotions in check.

‘It’s something that I’ve been working on for a while,’ Smith told a news conference on Friday. ‘I probably don’t do myself any favours with my hand gestures ... I’ve tried a few different techniques.’

The hosts won the series 5-0 the last time England visited Australia four years ago, but lost 3-2 in England in 2015, when Smith was vice-captain to Michael Clarke.

‘Ashes series are always big,’ Smith said. ‘This is my first Ashes series as captain and it’s going to be a good challenge.’

Smith has not scored a century since Australia’s tour of India wrapped up in March, but, on the eve of New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia, said he felt close to improving his form.

‘I haven’t felt great for a little while now ... haven’t felt quite right the last couple of weeks,’ Smith said.

‘I’ve made some progress the last couple of days. It’ll be good to spend some time in the middle to just reaffirm that. Had a good hit today, felt like I figured things out at the end.’