Fri Nov 21 02:10:00 UTC 2025: Ashes Mind Games Heat Up: Panesar and Smith Trade Barbs Ahead of First Test
Perth, Australia – The Ashes series has ignited before a ball has even been bowled, with former England spinner Monty Panesar and Australia captain Steve Smith engaged in a fiery exchange of words. The spat began after Panesar suggested England should exploit Smith’s involvement in the 2018 sandpaper scandal, aiming to unsettle the stand-in captain.
Smith responded by mocking Panesar’s infamous appearance on BBC’s “Celebrity Mastermind,” where the spinner gave a series of incorrect answers, including placing Athens in Germany.
However, Panesar has refused to back down, escalating the situation further. He hit back at Smith, reminding him of his ball-tampering ban and suggesting the Australian captain was distracted by his comments. “We’ve both made mistakes. I made mine on a quiz show, he made his on a cricket field,” Panesar told BBC Radio 5Live. “The night before the Test match he’s watching my Mastermind clips… it kind of feels like England are already in his head.”
Panesar believes this exchange has presented an opportunity for England to target Smith with mind games. “It’s opened up now for the England boys to really go hard at him… It could be that difference where he gets out early and suddenly they’re saying thanks Monty.”
He concluded by saying: “I know I’m guilty of bad general knowledge, not ball tampering. It’s obviously still a sensitive subject for him and I think no one thought he would respond in this way. I suppose he’s clearly trying to deviate from the subject, but still quite a sensitive one for him.”
The war of words has added significant spice to the upcoming Ashes series, with all eyes now on Smith’s performance in the first Test and how England will seek to capitalize on this perceived vulnerability.
First Piper 