Former England spinner Monty Panesar suggested Ben Stokes and Joe Root target Steve Smith by questioning his captaincy over Sandpaper Gate, where Smith was banned for 12 months after ball-tampering in Cape Town.
Standing in as Australian captain with Pat Cummins injured, Smith retorted in a pre-match press conference by ribbing Panesar’s quiz show gaffes, drawing laughs from reporters.
The exchange highlights ongoing pre-series banter as Australia defends the Ashes urn at home against England, who seek their first series win Down Under since 2010-11.
Smith is a cheat and therefore should never have been captain again. Time for him to go and restore some reputation back to the Australian side.