On the eve of the Ashes, an unexpected clash emerged between Monty Panesar and Steve Smith. The Australian captain took the opportunity during a press conference to revive discussions around the ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal, drawing attention to Panesar’s remarks on the matter.

Panesar’s comments regarding the ball-tampering scandal involving the Australian team went largely unnoticed by cricket fans until Smith strategically brought them up in his press conference. Smith appeared to have orchestrated a question to address Panesar’s suggestion that England should exploit his guilt over the incident.

Having been the captain during the 2018 sandpaper scandal that led to his removal from the position, Smith cleverly diverted the conversation by referencing a TV show and downplaying the significance of Panesar’s comments. Despite the controversy, Smith has been reinstated as the Australian captain for the upcoming Test in Perth due to Pat Cummins’ unavailability.

In response to Smith’s remarks, Panesar, a former England spinner, expressed that both individuals have made mistakes, highlighting his humorous appearance on a quiz show as compared to Smith’s on-field transgressions. Panesar’s appearance on a quiz show in 2019 garnered attention for his struggles in the general knowledge round.

The Ashes series is set to kick off in Perth with England likely to opt for a pace-heavy bowling lineup. While Shoaib Bashir is included in the 12-man squad, it is anticipated that the off-spinner will not make it to the final playing XI.

Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering substantial savings for subscribers and an increased number of live matches, including Premier League and EFL games. The network plans to broadcast over 200 live Premier League matches in the upcoming season, a significant increase from previous years.