Australian captain Steve Smith has taken a hilarious swipe at former England spinner Monty Panesar in his press conference on the eve of the first Ashes Test in Perth.<\/p>\n
Panesar made headlines in the build up to the series by saying that the England team and the British tabloids should target Smith over the Sandpapergate scandal.<\/p>\n
\u201cBen Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that,\u201d Panesar said.<\/p>\n
\ufeffWatch The Ashes 2025\/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSay something like, \u2018I don\u2019t think it\u2019s ethical that he\u2019s the captain, I don\u2019t think he played the game fairly\u2019. Really get into him and make him feel guilty about it. Make him feel like, \u2018they\u2019re probably right, I shouldn\u2019t be here, I shouldn\u2019t be doing this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is where the UK media must also focus and put pressure. Use it as a way to help England,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope that England uses it as an advantage and don\u2019t just get quiet about it because we know he bats well when he\u2019s captaining Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it were the opposite, the Australian media would be all over it. They would have said, if it was any of the English players, \u2018the cheaters have arrived\u2019. Right?\u201d<\/p>\n Smith did not miss his chance to return serve.<\/p>\n Shortly after announcing that Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett will make their debuts on Friday<\/a>, Smith was asked by a reporter about Panesar\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n