Ashes 2025-26: Steve Smith fires back at Monty Panesar over Sandpapergate remarks

Steve Smith marked his temporary return as Australia’s Ashes captain with an unexpected swipe at former England spinner Monty Panesar. The former England cricketer had urged travelling fans and the media to target Smith over his involvement in the ‘Sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal from seven years ago, for which the ace batter has already served a punishment.

Panesar suggested that Smith should be made to feel guilty about stepping in as stand-in skipper for Pat Cummins. Instead of brushing off the remarks, Smith chose an unusual path during his press conference on the eve of the first Test in Perth. He sought to undermine Panesar’s credibility by referencing the former cricketer’s famously error-filled appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019, pointing out the series of gaffes Panesar made on the show.

“I’m going to go off topic here, who 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, or 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,” said Smith as quoted by Independent.

Check the video of the Steve Smith's press conference here

Panesar, who last year briefly explored the possibility of running for Parliament under George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain, previously went viral for a series of baffling responses during a general knowledge round on Celebrity Mastermind hosted by John Humphrys. Smith’s unexpected broadside at the former spinner drew laughter from the media pack, but the decision to hit out at a retired cricketer who last played Test cricket in 2013 suggests Panesar may have succeeded in getting under the skin of a player central to Australia’s Ashes ambitions.

Beyond addressing the Panesar episode, Smith also confirmed Australia’s XI for the opening Test, featuring two debutants, both 31 years old. As anticipated, South Australia seamer Brendan Doggett has been preferred over Michael Neser to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood, while Jake Weatherald steps in as opener. With Marnus Labuschagne returning to his familiar No. 3 position, there is no room for all-rounder Beau Webster, who can consider himself unfortunate after a promising start to his Baggy Green journey.

“It was very tricky. I think Beau came into international cricket and lit it up immediately, so I think it’s a really tough one on him. He’s the one that misses out unfortunately. But I think with Marnus, when he’s batting at his best at number three, it makes us a very, very good cricket side. We couldn’t really leave him out. When he’s batting, well, it’s tough to leave him out,” said Smith.