Monty Panesar had suggested England targeting Steve Smith with Sandpapergate jibes during the 2025/26 Ashes. Smith responded to these suggestions.
“Make him doubt himself”
In the absence of the injured Pat Cummins, Smith will lead Australia in the first Test match of the 2025/26 Ashes. Ahead of the series, Panesar had some suggestions for the England team: “Ben Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that. Tell him he hasn’t played the game fairly … Make him doubt himself.”
He added that if the English bowlers swung the ball, their teammates should joke about them being unable to do that without “using sandpaper.”
Panesar was referring to the 2018/19 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal that led to bans for Smith, the captain of the Australian side, along with vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
Panesar also expected the British media to get behind the team in this: “If the roles were reversed, Australian media would be all over it. This is where the British press must help England.”
“Doesn’t really bother me”
Smith was asked about Panesar’s comments in a pre-series press conference. In response, he referred to Panesar’s “pretty comical” gaffes at an episode of the 'Mastermind' quiz show, recalling specifically the errors that attained cult status over time (Panesar mentioned that Athens was in Germany, Oliver Twist was a season of the year, and America was a city).
Once done, Smith added: “So, it doesn’t really bother me, those comments. Yeah, that’s as far as I’ll go with that one.”
The first Test of the 2025/26 Ashes begins on November 21, at the Perth Stadium.
