Former England spinner Monty Panesar has issued a sharp rebuttal to Australia’s stand-in captain Steven Smith, after the latter mocked his infamous performance on the quiz show Celebrity Mastermind.
Panesar Responds to Smith’s Mockery
In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Panesar said that while he may be guilty of poor general knowledge, it was “better than being a cheat.”
Panesar’s comments come after Smith referenced Panesar’s 2019 quiz show errors during a press conference ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth. Smith replied to Panesar’s recent suggestion that England players should remind him of the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal.
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“My Mistakes Were Harmless; His Were Not”: Panesar
Panesar wrote that he had no issue admitting his quiz-show blunders, where he famously gave incorrect answers to basic questions.
“It’s bad knowledge, but at least it isn’t ball-tampering,” he said, directly questioning whether Smith had truly owned up to Sandpapergate.
Panesar added that Smith’s defensive response showed “mental vulnerability,” which elite athletes cannot afford before a major series.
Questions Over Smith’s Captaincy
Panesar argued that a player involved in a major cheating scandal should not be leading Australia in the Ashes.
“If it was an England player caught in such blatant ball-tampering, they wouldn’t be captain today,” he said.
He added that Smith made a “massive blunder” with his deflection and hoped the episode would psychologically unsettle Australia.
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What Smith Had Said
Smith mocked Panesar’s Mastermind answers, saying:
“Anyone who thinks Athens is in Germany or that Oliver Twist is a season of the year doesn’t bother me.”
Ashes Begin Friday
The 2025–26 Ashes series begins Friday at the Optus Stadium, Perth, at 9:30 am IST.
