The Ashes: Former England spinner urges team to ‘Weaponise’ Sandpapergate to unsettle Steve Smith

With the first Ashes Test in Perth just days away, the psychological battle off the field has already begun. Former England spinner Monty Panesar has urged Ben Stokes and his team to revive the infamous Sandpapergate scandal as a mental tactic to rattle Australia’s acting captain Steve Smith. Panesar believes targeting Smith’s past could disrupt his focus and leadership during a high-pressure series.

“Make Him Feel Guilty,” Says Panesar

Panesar known for speaking bluntly about Smith’s role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident, argued that England should not hesitate to question the Australian star’s integrity.

“Ben Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that,” Panesar said. “Tell him he hasn’t played the game fairly… make him doubt himself.”

He even suggested England joke about ball movement by saying they’re achieving swing “without using sandpaper.”

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Smith Back as Skipper, England Told to Capitalise

With Pat Cummins ruled out of the first Test, Smith will temporarily lead Australia, a situation Panesar insists England must exploit. Referencing the Steve Waugh era, he said Australia famously used mental warfare, and now England should return the favour.

Panesar Wants British Media to Join the Pressure

The former spinner didn’t stop at players; he called on the UK media to amplify the psychological challenge.
“If the roles were reversed, Australian media would be all over it,” he said. “This is where the British press must help England.”

Ashes Mind Games Already Underway

As tensions build, Panesar’s call for aggressive mental strategies sets the stage for a fiery Ashes opener. Whether England adopts his bold suggestions remains to be seen, but the psychological battle has clearly begun.