Australia’s stand in skipper Steve Smith has taken a dig at former England cricketer Monty Panesar on the eve of the Ashes, dragging the Lutonian into the pre-series build up.
The spinner, who played 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013 and remains one of the town’s most recognisable sporting exports, suggested last week in an interview with an online betting company that England should make Smith feel “guilty” about his role in the 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ ball tampering scandal. Smith was stripped of the captaincy after the episode and still hears about it from England supporters whenever he tours.
In his pre-match press conference at Perth Stadium, Smith responded to a question about Panesar’s remarks, pointing to Panesar’s now infamous Celebrity Mastermind appearance in 2019, which he got just one question right in the general knowledge round, despite faring well in his specialist subject of the history of Sikhism.
“I’m going to go off topic here,” said Smith, who is deputising for regular captain Pat Cummins, after he was ruled out of the first Test with a back injury., adding: “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 who believes that Athens is in Germany, 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, has also spoken about England’s chances of winning in Australia this winter, telling the Aceodds.com: “Well let’s be honest, England have won the Ashes in Australia only five times since World War II. So let’s be realistic, it is a slim chance.
“The advantage that England have is that Bazball could completely derail Australia because they’ve never had a team that’s come to Australia and go out six-seven an over.
“The potential in the pace attack. It’s raw, it’s new, it’s inexperienced. They could rise to the challenge with an unsettled Australian top order.”
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