AUS vs ENG: Steve Smith gives the perfect reply to Monty Panesar ahead of Ashes 1st Test
Steve Smith marked his brief return as Australia’s Ashes captain with a surprising rebuttal directed at former England spinner Monty Panesar. Panesar had recently urged travelling English fans and the media to apply pressure on Smith, bringing up his role in the seven-year-old ‘Sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal—an incident for which Smith has long since served his punishment. Panesar even went as far as to claim that Smith should feel guilty about stepping in as stand-in captain for Pat Cummins. Rather than ignoring the remarks, Smith responded in an unexpected manner during his press conference on the eve of the first Test in Perth.
Steve Smith takes down Monty Panesar before AUS vs ENG Ashes 1st Test
Ahead of the Australia vs England, Ashes 1st Test, Steve Smith chose to question Panesar’s credibility by referencing the ex-spinner’s infamous appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019, where Panesar became known for a series of widely ridiculed blunders and incorrect answers. By highlighting those gaffes, Smith subtly dismissed Panesar’s comments as unworthy of serious consideration. His sharp yet humorous reply not only deflected the criticism but also set a confident tone ahead of the Ashes opener, signalling that he would not be distracted by attempts to revisit past controversies.
Iconic from Steve Smith. 😂 pic.twitter.com/jyvPcoSH5L
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) November 20, 2025
"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,” stated Australian captain Steve Smith.
In what seemed like a carefully prepared rebuttal, Steve Smith chose to undermine Monty Panesar’s criticism by pointing directly to the former spinner’s infamous appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019. Smith referenced the episode in detail, highlighting the string of comical errors and confused responses Panesar delivered on the show. His comments made it clear that he viewed Panesar’s recent remarks as lacking credibility and therefore unworthy of serious attention.
Panesar’s Celebrity Mastermind performance had gone viral at the time, largely because of a series of illogical and incorrect answers he gave during a general knowledge round hosted by John Humphrys. The clip resurfaced heavily online, adding to the former cricketer’s reputation for occasional off-field eccentricity. Interestingly, this was not the only instance of Panesar making headlines for reasons beyond cricket. Just last year, he briefly considered contesting as a Member of Parliament for George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain, another move that attracted widespread curiosity. By bringing up these episodes, Smith subtly framed Panesar’s comments as part of a pattern, suggesting that his criticisms should not be taken too seriously.
Smith’s sharp and unexpected jab at Panesar drew laughter from the press room, but it also hinted that the former England spinner may have succeeded in unsettling him. Targeting a retired player who last featured in a Test in 2013 suggested that Panesar’s remarks had struck a nerve, an intriguing subplot given Smith’s importance to Australia’s Ashes campaign. Away from the verbal exchange, Smith confirmed Australia playing XI, which includes two debutants, both aged 31.
As anticipated, South Australian seamer Brendan Doggett has been picked ahead of Michael Neser to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood. Meanwhile, Jake Weatherald has been handed the role of opening batter. With Marnus Labuschagne slotting back in at number three, all-rounder Beau Webster misses out despite making an encouraging start to his Baggy Green career. His omission will be viewed as unfortunate, but Australia have opted for a more traditional balance as they prepare for the Ashes series opener.
Australia playing 11 for the Ashes 1st Test
Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.
