As the highly anticipated Ashes series approaches, tensions between former England spinner Monty Panesar and Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith have escalated, with both cricketers trading pointed remarks. The verbal sparring began when Smith, during a pre-match press conference in Perth, mocked Panesar’s 2019 appearance on the BBC quiz show ‘Celebrity Mastermind,’ where the Englishman famously struggled with general knowledge questions. Smith quipped, ‘Anyone who believes Athens is in Germany or Oliver Twist is a season shouldn’t be taken seriously.’ Panesar, however, fired back by referencing Smith’s involvement in the 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal, which led to his temporary removal as Australia’s captain. ‘I made my mistakes on a quiz show; he made his on a cricket field,’ Panesar remarked in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. The former England bowler also suggested that Smith’s focus on his quiz show performance might indicate that England is already ‘in his head.’ Panesar, who played 50 Tests for England, expressed surprise at Smith’s decision to bring up the Mastermind episode, expecting a more measured response. He speculated that the Australian’s reaction could open the door for England to exploit psychological vulnerabilities during the series. The first Ashes Test begins on Friday at Perth Stadium, with Smith leading Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is sidelined with a back injury. The exchange has added an extra layer of intrigue to the storied rivalry between the two cricketing nations.