Former England cricket player Monty Panesar has addressed remarks made by Australian captain Steve Smith before the Ashes series. The two had a verbal exchange prior to the First Test in Perth, where England suffered a swift defeat in just two days.
Following the loss at the Optus Stadium, Ben Stokes and his team have moved to Brisbane for the Second Test at The Gabba. Panesar had advised England to use the controversial ball-tampering scandal of 2018 to unsettle Australia and gain an advantage.
Smith responded to Panesar’s comments by mentioning the latter’s appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind in 2019. During a press conference, Smith humorously referred to Panesar’s performance on the show, highlighting some of the comical answers given by the former spinner.
Panesar has now reacted to Smith’s remarks, expressing surprise at Smith’s awareness of his quiz show answers. Panesar mentioned how he found pleasure in being able to provoke Australians even from the comfort of his sofa. He also commented on the lack of media attention to his sandpaper incident reference, suggesting it could be used by England players for a psychological advantage.
Reflecting on Smith’s performance in the Test match, Panesar noted the impact of the Barmy Army’s chants on Smith’s nerves and batting. Despite acknowledging Smith’s cricketing prowess and strategic captaincy, Panesar emphasized the importance of England using any available psychological edge, leaving the decision to Ben Stokes and the team.
Panesar shared his insights with BOYLE Sports, a platform offering cricket odds, ahead of the upcoming Ashes Test match. Fans can catch all the Ashes action live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel. The Ashes series commences on November 21, promising an intense battle between England and Australia for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.