Steve Smith has set the stage for a fiery Ashes opener after he answered Monty Panesar’s Sandpapergate comments with a stinging and clever roast. The stand-in Australia captain used Panesar’s viral Celebrity Mastermind blunders to shut down the former England spinner’s attempt at psychological warfare.
Panesar, who played for England from 2006 to 2013, recently told Ben Stokes and his team to remind Smith about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. He said England should try to make Smith feel guilty about the past and claim that he should not be captain.
The Sandpapergate incident took place in Cape Town in 2018. Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball. Smith and David Warner admitted they knew about the plan. Smith and Warner received year-long bans. Bancroft got nine months. Smith also lost the captaincy for life, a ban that ended in 2021.
With Pat Cummins out of the first Test, Smith is leading Australia again. Panesar used this chance to say England should attack Smith mentally, both on the field and through the media.
But Smith did not hold back when the topic came up in his press conference. He looked calm and ready with a response that the whole room found hilarious.
He said, “Who of you in the room have seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? 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.”
Laughter filled the room. The clip Smith mentioned is famous. During his general knowledge round in 2019, Panesar gave several incorrect answers that went viral worldwide. He mixed up cities, seasons and basic facts, and the moment became a running joke online.
Smith ended his reply by saying, “Those of you that have seen it will understand where I’m coming from. If you haven’t, do yourself a favour because it’s pretty comical. It doesn’t really bother me, those comments. That’s as far as I’ll go with that one.”
Panesar’s attempt to unsettle Smith has now become a punchline. Smith has a strong record of performing under pressure and has done so ever since his return from the ban. His 774 runs in the 2019 Ashes showed how little outside noise affects him.
The first Test starts on Friday in Perth. Australia will give Test debuts to Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett. Under Ben Stokes, England will hope the cricket takes centre stage and that Panesar’s idea does not backfire even more.
