The Ashes 2025-26 [WATCH]Steve Smith hits back at Monty Panesar over sandpaper claim before Perth Test

In a tense build up to ashes 2025 Series, Australian acting captain steve smith Gave a sharp reply to former England spinner Monty PanesarWhich again gave birth to the infamous sandpaper scandal controversy. As the much-awaited first Test in Perth approaches, Smith’s steadfast stance underlines the resilience of Australia’s cricket icon, especially against the increasing psychological tactics being employed by rival teams. England,

Ashes 2025-26: Steve Smith’s bold response to Monty Panesar on sandpaper gate controversy

Smith, famous for his part in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, displayed his characteristic composure and openly rejected Panesar’s provocative comments in the pre-match press conference. The former Australian captain, who faced a 12-month suspension and leadership ban from Cricket Australia following the incident, made it clear that he would not be drawn into the controversies rooted in the past.

In a masterstroke of wit and defiance, Smith referenced Panesar’s previous appearance on BBC’s Mastermind, and challenged anyone to compare the two. “Who in your room has seen Mastermind and Monty Panesar? Any of you? Yeah, well, those of you who have, you’ll understand where I’m coming from, and those of you who haven’t, do yourself a favor because this is so ridiculous,” Smith said

His dismissive comments on Panesar’s claims about the effectiveness of psychological warfare led to this close response. Smith’s reputation for mental toughness was exemplified during the 2019 Ashes, where he scored 774 runs despite facing continued hostility from the English crowd after his involvement in the sandpaper scandal. His flexibility cemented his stature as one of cricket’s most formidable competitors

Here is the video:

Also read: Australia or England? Kevin Pietersen predicts the scoreline of Ashes 2025-26

Panesar’s comments have once again brought the sandpaper incident into the spotlight, as he urged England to re-look at the controversy as a strategic weapon. Panesar emphasized the potential of psychological tactics and suggested that the England team should make Smith feel guilty for his past actions, with the aim of ultimately destabilizing him during the series. He proposed tactics such as joking about the swing achieved without using sandpaper and creating doubt about Smith’s honesty, a strategy reminiscent of the Australian teams. steve waugh Era.

However, Smith’s calm and calculated response indicates that he remains unaffected by such mind games. His history of handling pressure, coupled with his previous acts of defiance, suggests that he is prepared to counter any attempts at psychological warfare. In fact, Smith is completely focused on cricketing excellence, and dismisses distractions as irrelevant, as seen in his recent comments about the team’s squad and the upcoming series.​

The role of the media remains crucial in this high-stakes drama, with Panesar urging the UK media to exert psychological pressure on Smith. Nevertheless, experience from previous matches suggests that Smith’s mental toughness can neutralize these strategies, especially given his proven ability to excel in adverse conditions.

Also read: Ben Stokes vs Nathan Lyon: Head to head record in Test cricket ahead of Ashes 2025-26 Test series