In response to Australia captain Steve Smith’s recent comments ahead of the Ashes series, former England cricketer Monty Panesar has shared his thoughts. The heated exchange between Panesar and Smith took place before the First Test in Perth, where England suffered a quick defeat within two days.
Following the loss in Perth, England’s team, led by Ben Stokes, has now moved to Brisbane for the Second Test at The Gabba. Panesar had advised England to leverage the 2018 ball-tampering scandal to unsettle Australia and gain an edge in the series.
Smith, in a press conference, alluded to Panesar’s appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind in 2019 in response to the spinner’s remarks. He humorously mentioned Panesar’s quiz performance and downplayed the impact of the former cricketer’s comments.
Panesar has since addressed Smith’s comments, expressing surprise and amusement at the captain’s knowledge of his quiz answers. The former cricketer highlighted the psychological aspect of the ongoing feud and the potential use of such incidents for strategic advantage.
Reflecting on Smith’s performance in the First Test, Panesar noted a change in the captain’s usual composure, suggesting that external factors might have affected his game. Despite acknowledging Smith’s prowess as a player and captain, Panesar emphasized the importance of England utilizing any psychological edge available to them.
The ongoing banter between Panesar and Smith adds an intriguing layer to the Ashes series, with the second Test match drawing closer. Fans can catch all the action live on TNT Sports via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
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