ENG vs AUS: Australia captain Steve Smith has hit back with a dose of humour after ex England star Monty Panesar attempted to stir the pot ahead of the Ashes by urging Ben Stokes and English supporters
to revive the sandpaper-gate controversy during the upcoming tour.
Panesar, who has been vocal in the build-up, encouraged England's media and travelling fans to target Smith in an effort to rattle him, even suggesting they should try to make him feel "guilty" about taking over as skipper while Pat Cummins recovers from injury.
Smith, however, brushed aside the provocation with a sharp, playful counter. Speaking to journalists a day before the opening Test, he revisited Panesar's infamous appearance on the quiz show Mastermind, where the former spinner delivered several memorable blunders. Smith asked the room, "Has anyone here seen Monty Panesar on Mastermind?" prompting immediate laughter. "If you haven't, do yourself a favour. It's pretty comical," he added with a grin.
Steve Smith was asked about Monty Panesar's recent comments about the sandpaper scandal.
- Test Match Special (@bbctms) November 20, 2025
He responded by bringing up Panesar's appearance on Celebrity Mastermind. pic.twitter.com/NblJKXPvfr
He then delivered a pointed jab: "Someone who thinks Athens is in Germany, Oliver Twist is a season, and America is a city doesn't really bother me. " His remarks made it clear that Panesar's attempts at mind games are unlikely to unsettle the Australian captain.
Beyond the off-field jabs, England arrive with plenty at stake. They haven't held the Ashes since 2015 and are desperate to overturn a decade-long trend that has largely favoured Australia. Their last tour Down Under in 2017-18 ended in a crushing 0-4 defeat, and although the 2019 series finished 2-2, Australia retained the urn before hammering England 4-0 again in the 2021-22 edition.
The historical numbers reinforce Australia's dominance: they have won 34 Ashes series compared to England's 33, with five drawn. In Australia, the home side holds a commanding 20-15 record in series victories.
This year's contest begins in Perth before moving to Brisbane's Gabba for the second Test. The tour then shifts to the Adelaide Oval for the pink-ball Test, heads to Melbourne for the Boxing Day showdown, and concludes at the Sydney Cricket Ground - setting the stage for yet another high-stakes chapter in cricket's oldest rivalry.
