'i Made Mistakes On Tv, He Made His On A Field' - Panesar Responds To Smith

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe astatine him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while nan stand-in Australia skipper "made his connected a cricket field".

Speaking connected nan eve of nan first Ashes Test successful Perth, Smith bullied Panesar, saying anyone who thought "Athens is successful Germany" aliases "Oliver Twist is simply a season" should not beryllium taken seriously.

He was referring to nan spinner's quality connected BBC TV show Celebrity Mastermind successful 2019, erstwhile Panesar managed only 1 correct reply successful nan wide knowledge round.

But referring again to nan ball-tampering scandal against South Africa successful 2018 that led to Smith's sacking arsenic Australian captain, Panesar told Radio 5 Live: "I've had immoderate awesome moments for England and I've had shockers, and he's had immoderate awesome moments for Australia and he's evidently had a very large shocker successful South Africa.

"We've some made mistakes. I made excavation connected a quiz show, he made his connected a cricket field."

The spat followed comments to a gambling website from nan 43-year-old past week connected really England should make Smith consciousness "guilty" astir his portion successful nan 'Sandpapergate' incident, wherever Australia's "leadership group" had a plan, carried retired by Cameron Bancroft, to tamper pinch nan shot to "get an advantage".

Smith, 36, has often been taunted by fans complete nan scandal.

And he brought up Panesar's Mastermind episode, calling it "pretty comical", erstwhile responding to nan ex-bowler's views.

"Anyone who believes that Athens is successful Germany, Oliver Twist is simply a play of nan year, and America is simply a city, it doesn't really fuss maine those comments," Smith said successful his pre-match news conference.

With Pat Cummins retired pinch a backmost injury, Smith will lead Australia successful nan first Test, which originates astatine Perth Stadium connected Friday.

And Panesar, who played 50 Tests betwixt 2006 and 2013, added: "What makes it much benignant of pleasing is that nan nighttime earlier nan Test match, he's watching my Mastermind clips, memorising nan questions and nan answers.

"And it benignant of feels for illustration England are already successful his caput and I tin rattle nan Aussies from sitting connected my sofa."

Panesar admitted he was "surprised" by Smith's determination to bring up his quality connected Celebrity Mastermind, saying he expected a much measured consequence from nan Australian batsman.

The 43-year-old had correctly answered six questions connected Sikhism and its history successful nan master taxable information of nan show.

"I deliberation everyone from my media friends, to everyone successful nan media, person said they couldn't judge Smith benignant of responded successful that way," added Panesar.

"I thought everyone thought it would person been conscionable a spot more, 'right it's OK, yea fine, I cheated, it's not a problem, I've moved connected from that, it's not an issue'.

"But because he's done it successful this way, I deliberation he's benignant of opened up now for nan England boys to really benignant of spell difficult astatine him, play a fewer mind games pinch him and that could beryllium nan quality wherever he gets retired early.

"And abruptly they'll beryllium benignant of saying acknowledgment Monty for conscionable trying to prosecute successful that conversation, of possibly seeing if you talk astir sandpaper will it make him consciousness a small spot blameworthy aliases not?

"Look, I cognize I'm blameworthy of bad wide knowledge but not ball-tampering. And I'll return that everyday."

Luton-born Panesar, who played for Sussex, Essex and Northamptonshire successful his region career, was portion of nan England broadside that won nan 2009 Ashes series.

In 2024, he announced his volition to guidelines arsenic an MP successful nan wide predetermination for nan Workers Party of Britain, only to propulsion retired a week later.