Steve Smith Launches Bizarre Attack on Monty Panesar on Eve of Ashes

Steve Smith has hit out at former England spinner Monty Panesar just hours before the first Ashes Test gets underway in Perth.

England head into the series hoping to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time since 2010-11, when they sealed a famous 3-1 victory.

However, since then, they have not won a single Ashes Test match on Australian soil.

They do come into this series on the back of an encouraging summer against India and with a clear identity under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

But Test cricket's oldest rivalry tends to define the futures of coaches and captains, and the tension is already rising for this series.

Panesar, who played 50 Tests for England, urged travelling fans and the press to keep criticising Smith for his role in the 'Sandpapergate' scandal of 2018.

Smith was sacked as captain and handed a one-match ban for his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in South Africa.

Smith did not hold back in his response, referencing Panesar's appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019, where he managed just one correct answer on the general knowledge round.

Smith said: "I'm going to go off topic here.

"Who of you in the room has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you?

"Those of you that have will understand where I'm coming from. If you haven't, do yourself a favour because it is pretty comical.

"Anyone who 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. That's as far as I'll go with that one."

The spat between Smith and Panesar has only contributed to the build-up.

Earlier this week, the West Australian newspaper ran a front page calling England "arrogant Bazballing Poms".

That talk is unlikely to faze England, with head coach McCullum and captain Stokes having shifted the side towards a more aggressive style of cricket since taking over in 2022.

Bazball has drawn criticism at times, but it has also seen England chase down huge totals.

England drew their first Ashes series 2-2 under McCullum and Stokes, but the head coach has been clear that everything has been building towards this trip to Australia.

"There's nothing bigger than what we're about to come into," he told BBC Sport.

"This team has been together for a good couple of years and we have been building towards this moment.

"It is the biggest stage and it is the brightest lights. It is a series that could define teams, the people and players within it. That's OK.

"You know you're ready, you know you have the game to compete at this level.

"Stay together, play the style you have become accustomed to and we'll see in a couple of months where we land."