Australia captain Steve Smith unleashed an unexpected tirade against former England spinner Monty Panesar during a pre-Ashes press conference in Perth, just days before the first Test on November 21, 2025. The outburst came after Panesar suggested England should psychologically target Smith over his role in the infamous 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal.
Panesar, speaking on a podcast, urged Ben Stokes’ side to “get into” Smith by questioning his ethics as captain and making him “feel guilty” about the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town. There, under Smith’s leadership, Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball, leading to bans: nine months for Bancroft and a year each for Smith and David Warner. Smith, who returned to lead Australia in Tests from 2019, has since featured in three Ashes series unscathed by direct on-field sledging related to the event.
When asked about Panesar’s remarks—the fourth question of the conference—Smith sidestepped cricket entirely, pivoting to ridicule the 43-year-old’s disastrous 2019 appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind. Panesar scored just one point in the general knowledge round, committing gaffes like placing Athens in Germany, mistaking Oliver Twist for a season, and calling America a city.
Key Quotes: Panesar’s Provocation and Smith’s Retort
Panesar had advised England to exploit Smith’s past: “Ben Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that. Say something like, ‘I don’t think it’s ethical that he’s the captain, I don’t think he played the game fairly’. Really get into him and make him feel guilty about it. Make him feel like ‘they’re probably right, I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be doing this.’ I hope that England uses it as an advantage… If it were the opposite, the Australian media would be all over it. They would have said, if it was any of the English players, ‘the cheaters have arrived’.”
Smith fired back with sarcasm: “I’m going to go off topic here… Who of you in the room has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you? Those of you that have will understand where I’m coming from. If you haven’t, do yourself a favour because it is pretty comical. Anyone that believes that Athens is in Germany… that’s a start. [That] Oliver Twist is a season of the year, and America is a city, it doesn’t really bother me those comments. That’s as far as I’ll go with that one.”
Panesar’s Legacy: From Heroics to Headlines
Panesar, a cult hero for England fans, played 50 Tests from 2006-2013, claiming 167 wickets. His finest hour came in the 2009 Ashes at Cardiff, where he and James Anderson batted out a draw to salvage a Test and spark England’s series win. Post-retirement, his life has been colorful: a brief 2024 political run with George Galloway’s Workers Party, and that infamous quiz flop that’s now meme fodder.
Despite the mockery, Panesar remains beloved, and his comments tap into lingering Ashes rivalry. Australia’s bowlers, including current skipper Pat Cummins, have long denied prior knowledge of the tampering plot.
Ashes Context: Mind Games Begin Early
With the 2025-26 Ashes underway amid high stakes—England chasing a first series win Down Under since 2010-11—Smith’s deflection highlights the series’ psychological edge. The opener at Perth Stadium promises fireworks, but whether Stokes’ team heeds Panesar’s trash-talk blueprint remains to be seen. Smith’s quip may rally Aussies but risks reigniting global scrutiny of his leadership post-scandal.
