On the brink of the Ashes series, a surprising feud emerged between Monty Panesar and Steve Smith. The Australian captain seized the opportunity during a press briefing to bring up the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ incident, reviving memories of the scandal.
Panesar’s remarks regarding the ball-tampering scandal went relatively unnoticed by cricket enthusiasts until Smith strategically raised the topic by seeming to plant a question in his press session.
Former England spinner Panesar had suggested that Ben Stokes and the English team should exploit Smith’s past to unsettle him. Smith, who was at the helm during the 2018 sandpaper controversy, cleverly diverted the focus to Panesar’s performance on the quiz show ‘Mastermind.’
Smith, who was stripped of his captaincy following the scandal in South Africa, has now been reinstated as Australia’s captain for the opening Test in Perth due to Pat Cummins’ unavailability.
In response to Smith’s comments, Panesar, known for his 50 Test appearances for England, retorted that both had made errors, albeit in different arenas – Panesar on a quiz show and Smith on the cricket field.
The Ashes series is set to commence in Perth with England likely opting for an all-seam bowling attack. Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, providing extensive coverage of over 1,400 live matches across various sports leagues.