Steve Smith has hit back at Monty Panesar after the former England spinner urged the touring side to unsettle the Australia captain by revisiting the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday's first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Smith ridiculed Panesar's infamous appearance on the TV quiz show Mastermind in 2019, where he incorrectly identified Athens as being in Germany.
Panesar had earlier suggested England players should target Smith by questioning his captaincy ethics, telling an online betting company: 'Really get into him and make him feel guilty about it.' Smith responded by asking reporters: 'Who in the room has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? ... Anyone that believes that Athens is in Germany ... Oliver Twist is a season of the year, and America is a city, it doesn't really bother me those comments.'
Panesar hit back on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying: 'We've both made mistakes. I made mine on a quiz show, he made his on a cricket field.' The exchange overshadowed Smith's confirmation of Australia's starting XI, which includes debutants Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, both injured.
Marnus Labuschagne returns at No. 3 after a prolific domestic run, with Beau Webster dropped. Smith indicated he would bat first if winning the toss, a preference he has followed in 17 of his 19 Tests as captain. England are yet to confirm their XI but have named a 12-man squad. Ben Stokes said: 'We've come here with a goal, and that goal is to get on that plane in mid-January, returning to England being Ashes winners.'
