Smith’s Sharp Rebuttal
In the build-up to the Ashes 2025–26 series between Australia and England, Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith launched a biting response to former England spinner Monty Panesar. Panesar had urged England to revive the memory of the 2018 “sandpapergate” scandal to unsettle Smith.
At a media conference, Smith dismissed Panesar’s comments with scorn. “So, it doesn’t really bother me, those comments. That’s as far as I’ll go with that one,” he said, adding a mocking reference to Panesar’s infamous 2019 appearance on the quiz show Mastermind.
Mocking the Mastermind Gaffes
Smith told reporters:
“Who of you … has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? … do yourself a favour because it is pretty comical. Anyone that believes that Athens is in Germany … Oliver Twist is a season of the year and America is a city … doesn’t really bother me.”
He drew laughter in the room while calling out Panesar’s quiz-show mistakes—turning the sandpaper jibe into a personal roast. Despite Panesar’s provocative remarks, Smith emphasized he would not dwell on them.
Panesar’s Strategy and Smith’s Response
Panesar had publicly encouraged England captain Ben Stokes and the British media to apply psychological pressure on Smith by bringing up his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal. He argued that England should “make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that” with lines like “I don’t think it’s ethical he’s the captain … I don’t think he played the game fairly.”
But Smith was ready. He countered by highlighting Panesar’s own credibility issues and attacking his public persona with humor rather than bitterness.
Focus on Cricket, Not Controversy
While acknowledging Panesar’s comments, Smith shifted the narrative back to cricket. He emphasized that Australia’s focus ahead of the Ashes Test series remains internal — on teamwork, preparation, and performance.
At 36, Smith is helping lead Australia in a high-stakes Ashes showdown, even as he faces reminders of his past. His refusal to be rattled by Panesar’s tactic underlines his calm, composed leadership ahead of a passionate and intense cricketing rivalry.
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