Published: Nov 21, 2025, 12:44 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 21, 2025, 12:44 PM (IST)
England star former player Monty Panesar is in the news one more time after controversial remarks over Australian star Steve Smith. However, he mentioned his name while talking about his embarrassing Mastermind quiz show moment.
However, Monty Panesar has told cricket fans to target Steve Smith in the Ashes because of the 2018 ball tampering issue. In reply, Smith didn’t make it big as he responded back by making fun of him, but Panesar was still keeping the issue alive.
“To think that he wanted to talk about me before one of the biggest days of his career — when he will lead Australia out against England as he stands in for absent captain Pat Cummins — is flattering, and nothing short of hilarious,” Panesar wrote in his column for the Telegraph UK.
“I cannot believe he has dug out the old YouTube clip of my shocker and memorised it word by word. I must admit I am delighted to have got so far inside his head, but if I am able to achieve that, imagine how much damage Ben Stokes and his side are going to be able to do once play starts in Perth?” he added.
“I’m going to go off topic for a second here,” Smith said when he was asked about Panesar’s criticism. “Who of you in the room has seen ‘Mastermind’ and Monty Panesar on that?
“Any of you? Well, those of you who have, you’ll understand where I’m coming from, and those of you who haven’t, do yourself a favour because it’s pretty comical.
“Anyone who believes that Athens is in Germany, that’s a start, Oliver Twist is a season of the year, and America is a city.
“We’ve both made mistakes, but at least mine was on a celebrity quiz show. His was on a cricket field, and we both have to live by them. It seems right now only one of us can. etter than being a cheat. But if I’m guilty of anything, it is having bad general knowledge. And that is better than being a cheat,” wrote Panesar.
