Australian cricket star Steve Smith has delivered a cutting response to former England spinner Monty Panesar after he urged players to target the batsman about the infamous Sandpapergate scandal during the upcoming Ashes series.
Panesar's provocative comments
As Smith prepares to captain Australia again in the absence of injured Pat Cummins, the 36-year-old is expected to face a hostile reception from travelling Barmy Army fans. Panesar added fuel to the fire by making provocative comments, suggesting England players should make Smith feel guilty about the 2018 Newlands Test where the ball-tampering incident occurred.
The former England spinner, who played 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013, told Aceodds.com that Ben Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that. Smith accepted a 12-month ban for his role in the ball-tampering saga and has never been allowed to forget what he describes as the darkest moment in his career by opposition fans.
Smith's masterful comeback
When questioned about Panesar's comments during a press conference at Perth Stadium on Thursday, Smith took the opportunity to reference Panesar's ill-fated appearance on UK quiz show Mastermind in 2019.
Who of you in the room have seen Mastermind and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you? Smith quipped to the packed media gathering. Well, those of you who have, you'll understand where I'm coming from. And those of you who haven't, do yourself a favour because it's pretty comical.
The Australian batsman didn't hold back, highlighting some of Panesar's most memorable blunders: Anyone that believes that Athens is in Germany, that's a start. Oliver Twist is a season of the year, and America is a city. Doesn't really bother me, those comments.
The Mastermind blunders confirmed
Smith's references to Panesar's quiz show performance were factually accurate. During his 2019 appearance, the former cricketer indeed provided all those unfortunate answers:
- When asked where Germany's national football team played international matches until 2001, Panesar answered: Athens
- When questioned which city the TV show Cheers was set in, he responded: America
- His third last question was: In an 1819 poem, what season of the year does Keats describe as 'a season of mist and mellow fruitfulness'? Panesar replied: Oliver Twist
The exchange sets the stage for what promises to be a fiery Ashes series, with Smith demonstrating he's more than capable of handling the psychological warfare that often accompanies cricket's oldest rivalry.
