In a tense build-up to the Ashes 2025 collection, Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith delivered a pointy retort to former England spinner Monty Panesar, who reignited the notorious sandpaper scandal controversy. Because the much-anticipated first Take a look at in Perth approaches, Smith’s agency stance underscores the resilience of Australia’s cricketing icon in opposition to mounting psychological ways employed by rival groups, significantly England.
Ashes 2025-26: Steve Smith’s daring response to Monty Panesar over Sandpaper gate row
Smith, famously related to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, brazenly dismissed Panesar’s provocative feedback in his pre-match press convention, showcasing his attribute composure. The previous Australian captain, who confronted a 12-month suspension and management ban from Cricket Australia following the incident, made it clear he wouldn’t be baited into disputes rooted up to now.
In a masterstroke of wit and defiance, Smith referenced Panesar’s earlier look on BBC’s Mastermind, humorously difficult anybody to equate the 2. “Who have you ever within the room have seen Mastermind and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you? Yeah, properly, these of you which have, you’ll perceive the place I’m coming from, and people of you haven’t, do your self a favour as a result of it’s fairly comical,” stated Smith.
This close-to-the-bone retort was furthered by his dismissive feedback on Panesar’s assertions in regards to the effectiveness of psychological warfare. Smith’s repute for psychological toughness was exemplified through the 2019 Ashes, the place he scored 774 runs regardless of dealing with relentless hostility from English spectators following his involvement within the sandpaper scandal. His resilience cemented his stature as considered one of cricket’s most formidable opponents.
Right here’s the video:
“Who within the room have seen Mastermind and Monty Panesar on that?” 😂😂😂
Australian captain Steve Smith has taken a hilarious swipe at former England spinner Monty Panesar in his press convention on the eve of the primary Ashes Take a look at in Perth.#cricket #theashes #mastermind pic.twitter.com/xELCXdPPkS
— Kayo Sports activities (@kayosports) November 20, 2025
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Panesar’s feedback have as soon as once more thrust the sandpaper incident into the limelight, as he urged England to revisit the controversy as a strategic weapon. Panesar emphasised the potential of psychological ways, suggesting that England’s crew ought to make Smith really feel responsible about his previous actions, in the end aiming to unsettle him through the collection. He proposed ways like joking about swing achieved with out utilizing sandpaper and upsetting doubts about Smith’s integrity, a method harking back to the Australian groups of the Steve Waugh period.
Nonetheless, Smith’s calm and calculated response signifies that he stays unfazed by such psychological video games. His historical past of dealing with stress, coupled along with his previous acts of defiance, suggests he’s ready to counter any makes an attempt at psychological warfare. In truth, Smith’s focus seems solely on cricketing excellence, dismissing distractions as irrelevant, as seen in his current remarks in regards to the crew’s squad and the upcoming collection.
The media’s position on this high-stakes drama stays pivotal, with Panesar urging the UK media to amplify the psychological stress on Smith. But, expertise from earlier encounters suggests Smith’s psychological fortitude would possibly neutralize these ways, particularly given his confirmed capacity to excel beneath hostile circumstances.
Additionally READ: Ben Stokes vs Nathan Lyon: Head to Head record in Test cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025-26 Test series
