Story perspectives

Steve Smith Claps Back at Panesar Amid Ashes Pressure

11/21/2025

Summary

Story summary

Steve Smith, Australia's stand-in captain, responded to Monty Panesar's call for fans to criticize him over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
In a pre-match press conference, Smith mocked Panesar's performance on Celebrity Mastermind, suggesting Panesar's opinions were irrelevant.
The exchange shows Panesar's comments have affected Smith, who is crucial for Australia's Ashes series.
Smith also confirmed the team lineup with two debutants and lamented Beau Webster's exclusion.

History

Historical Context

The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, known as Sandpapergate, erupted during a Test match against South Africa when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball's condition. Following the incident on March 24, Cricket Australia imposed year-long bans on captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, severely damaging the team's reputation and prompting ongoing scrutiny of Australian cricket leadership.

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Story summary

Steve Smith, Australia's stand-in captain, responded to Monty Panesar's call for fans to criticize him over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
In a pre-match press conference, Smith mocked Panesar's performance on Celebrity Mastermind, suggesting Panesar's opinions were irrelevant.
The exchange shows Panesar's comments have affected Smith, who is crucial for Australia's Ashes series.
Smith also confirmed the team lineup with two debutants and lamented Beau Webster's exclusion.

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