Former England cricket team spinner Monty Panesar has hit back at a brutal jibe taken by Australian national cricket team batting superstar Steve Smith ahead of the Ashes match.
In a scathing statement, Monty Panesar said that while he and Steve Smith had made mistakes on the Mastermind show, Australia’s greatest modern-day players had made mistakes on the cricket field.
I think it’s still in his head, 100 percent – Monty Panesar
The Ashes 2025-26 season is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 21, and arguments have already begun between former and current cricketers ahead of the series opener.
Your daily cricket intake!
One notable joke has surfaced between Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith and former England spinner Monty Panesar.
Remarkably, a few days ago Mr Panesar had urged Britons to brutally target Steve Smith by reminding them of the sandpaper gateball tampering scandal and making him feel “guilty”.
In his pre-game press conference, Smith responded to Panesar’s comments that he was “off topic” brutally trolling Monty Panesar over his failed appearance on Celebrity Mastermind.
The former England spinner was quick to respond to Steve Smith in an interview with the PA news agency, he said.
“It’s interesting. I think it’s still 100 percent in his head. He remembers the questions and the answers because they’re so funny.”
The best way to deviate from that is to say something totally funny – Monty Panesar
Panesar said Smith tried to deflect his comments in a comical way, but deep down he was still affected by the ugly ball-cheating and England players should mention it while shaving him. he said:
“The best way to deviate from that is to say something totally funny and comical, like what I did on the show, and then everything moves forward.
“If I were in the England team now, I’d be thinking, ‘Monty just gave Steve Smith some ammunition to use.’
“What I’m trying to do is help the England team. This is your chance. You’re in Perth, not Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood. If you’re brave and think it’s a good idea, tell him,” he added.
Just say “Monty’s on my mind, buddy” – Monty Panesar
Panesar also urged Ben Stokes’ side to get inside Steve Smith’s head, naming him and making him uncomfortable in midfield. He elaborated:
“Say, ‘I’ve got Monty in my head, hey, I’ve got hitter No. 11 in my head, are you going to bat like him today?'”
“Making him uncomfortable is the key. Ashes cricket is all about getting one per center. Could this be a one per cent advantage for the England team to let Steve Smith go?”
“Is there a 1 per cent chance that England will sled him and all the players will get on him and make him uncomfortable for the first 10-20 balls and he doesn’t get going and gets sent off? (If that happens) England will think we need to do this every time.”
Also read: Internal conflict? Sitanshu Kotak shockingly feuds with Gautam Gambhir over Kolkata pitch