"That hasn't really been brought to the table," Warner said on Sunday. "As I've said plenty of times off the record, it's upon the board to reach out to me and open their doors. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them.

"The board has changed since back in 2018 and when all those sanctions were dealt. It would be great to have a conversation with them and see where we are at."

Smith, who was captain at Newlands in 2018, was given a two-year leadership ban and last year led Australia in the second Test against England in Adelaide when Cummins was ruled out due to being a Covid close contact.

However, regardless of whether he has captaincy position in Australian cricket again, Warner believes he can play a leadership role.

"I've got the experience, I'm a leader in the side anyway without having a title," he said. "That's what I'm about, giving back, so if they [younger players] can pick my brains in any way, my phone is always there, they have my number, and they can see me when I'm at the practice facilities."

When announcing Warner's signing, Thunder said a decision on the club's captaincy would "be made closer to the start of the season"