DID MONTY MASTER MIND GAMES?

Panesar’s specialist subject should now be Sledging Aussies as he gets Smith to bite

- BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH AND RORY DOLLARD

MONTY PANESAR believes Steve Smith still feels guilty about ‘Sandpapergate’ and has urged England to use it as “ammunition” during the Ashes.

Smith was sacked as Australia captain for his role in the notorious ball-tampering scandal in 2018, but he is leading the side again for the first Ashes Test in Perth because of an injury to Pat Cummins.

He used yesterday's pre-match press conference to launch a bizarre swipe at former England spinner Panesar, who recently called on travelling fans and media to barrack Smith over what happened against South Africa seven years ago.

In what appeared to be a well-rehearsed response, Smith moved to discredit Panesar's opinion with a detailed reference to his 2019 appearance on Celebrity Mastermind, in which he answered just one question right in the general knowledge round.