Former England cricket player Monty Panesar has responded to remarks made by Australian captain Steve Smith ahead of the Ashes series. Panesar and Smith engaged in a verbal exchange before the First Test in Perth, where England suffered a quick defeat within two days.
Ben Stokes and his team faced an eight-wicket loss at the Optus Stadium and have now moved to Brisbane for the Second Test at The Gabba. Prior to the series opener, Panesar suggested that England should leverage the 2018 ball-tampering scandal to unsettle Australia and gain an edge.
Smith, in response, brought up Panesar’s appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind from 2019 during a press conference. Smith humorously referenced Panesar’s performance on the show, highlighting some of the former spinner’s answers to questions.
Reacting to Smith’s comments, Panesar expressed surprise and amusement, mentioning that he was able to affect Australians just by sitting at home. He also noted the lack of media attention regarding his sandpaper incident remarks and speculated on how England could use such incidents to their advantage.
Panesar further commented on Smith’s performance during the Test match, pointing out signs of nervousness and praising Smith’s overall cricketing prowess. He emphasized the strategic decisions made by Smith and encouraged England to consider using various tactics, including psychological warfare led by Ben Stokes.
In his conversation with BOYLE Sports, Panesar shared insights on the ongoing banter between him and Smith, shedding light on the dynamics leading up to the Second Test match in the Ashes series.
For the latest cricket odds and updates on the Ashes series, fans can visit BOYLE Sports. The Ashes series kicks off on November 21 and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.