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Ashes Rivalry Brewing: Steve Smith Fires Back At Monty Panesar Over Sandpaper Advice To Ben Stokes
Steve Smith mocked Monty Panesar’s quiz show blunders while dismissing calls to weaponize the 2018 ball-tampering scandal ahead of the Ashes series.
- November 20, 2025, Australia stand-in captain Steve Smith fired back at Monty Panesar at a packed Perth press conference on the eve of the first Ashes Test in Perth.
- Monty Panesar urged England players and UK tabloids to target Steve Smith over the Sandpapergate scandal, saying to 'really get into him and make him feel guilty about it' to unsettle him.
- Smith referenced Panesar's Mastermind TV appearance six years ago, noting Panesar answered one general knowledge question correctly despite six specialist answers and citing errors like Athens in Germany and Oliver Twist as a season.
- The selection announcement — including debutants Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett — preceded the press question that prompted Smith's retort, as he prepares to lead in Pat Cummins' absence facing likely hostility from travelling Barmy Army fans.
- Sandpapergate originated at the 2018 Newlands Test and implicated Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, and Steve Smith, ending Smith's captaincy as Cricket Australia sent the three players home and imposed lengthy bans.
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England hero Monty Panesar fires back at Steve Smith in bizarre Ashes clash - The Mirror
Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith tried to get a few laughs in his pre-Ashes press conference by firing back at ex-England spinner Monty Panesar - who has since had a pop back
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left4Leaning Right7Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Right
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Right
54% Right
L 31%
15%
R 54%
Factuality
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