Former England cricket player Monty Panesar has reacted to statements made by Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, leading up to the Ashes series. Panesar and Smith had a verbal exchange before the First Test in Perth, resulting in England’s quick defeat within two days.
England, captained by Ben Stokes, faced an eight-wicket loss at Optus Stadium and have now moved to Brisbane for the Second Test at The Gabba. Prior to the series opener, Panesar advised England to use the 2018 ball-tampering scandal to unsettle Australia and gain an edge.
In response, Smith mentioned Panesar’s appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind in 2019, diverting from the cricket discussion. Smith humorously referenced Panesar’s answers on the show, prompting Panesar to further engage in the banter.
Panesar, in response to Smith’s comments, expressed amusement at rattling the Australians with his sofa commentary. He mentioned the lack of British media coverage on his sandpaper incident remarks and hinted at Ben Stokes potentially using it to his advantage psychologically.
Reflecting on Smith’s performance in the Test match, Panesar noted the Barmy Army’s chants affecting Smith’s nerves. Despite acknowledging Smith’s cricket prowess and strategic captaincy, Panesar emphasized the importance of England leveraging any psychological edge against Australia.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Panesar shared his insights on the ongoing verbal exchange with Smith, setting the stage for an intense battle in the upcoming Ashes Test matches. Cricket enthusiasts can catch all the Ashes action live on TNT Sports starting November 21.
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