Steve Smith marked his temporary return as Australia's Ashes captain with a bizarre attack on former England spinner Monty Panesar in his press conference on the eve of the first Test in Perth.
Panesar recently called on travelling fans and media to target Smith over his role in the 'Sandpapergate' ball-tampering scandal seven years ago, saying he should be made to feel "guilty" about standing in as Pat Cummins' replacement skipper.
Quizzed on those comments, Smith looked to discredit Panesar with a detailed reference to his gaffe-ridden appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019.
"I'm going to go off topic here, who in the room has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you?" Smith said, before referencing some specific answers from Panesar.
"Those of you that have will understand where I'm coming from. If you haven't, do yourself a favour because it is pretty comical.
"Anyone that believes that Athens is in Germany, that's a start, or that Oliver Twist is a season of the year and America is a city.
"It doesn't really bother me, those comments. That's as far as I'll go with that one."
Panesar later responded to Smith's press conference quotes on Thursday, replying: "We've both made mistakes. I made mine on a quiz show, he [Steve Smith] made his on a cricket field," to BBC 5 Live.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Panesar added: "It's an interesting one. I think it's still in his head, 100 per cent. I find it so funny that he's memorised the questions and answers.
"The best way to deviate from it is say something completely funny, comical, what I did on the show and it will move everything on.
"If I was in the England team right now, I'd be thinking 'Monty's just given us a piece of ammunition that we can use on Steve Smith'."
Questions
Correct answers
1) Six 2) Cancer 3) Toad of Toad Hall 4) Jane 5) Kelvin 6) Singapore 7) The sea 8) The Full Monty 9) Munich 10) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 11) Diamonds 12) Five Guys Named Moe 13) Autumn 14) Boston 15) Census
Panesar's answers
1) Six - correct 2) Scorpion - incorrect 3) Harry Potter - incorrect 4) Elizabeth - incorrect 5) Pass - incorrect 6) Shanghai - incorrect 7) The sky - incorrect 8) The Dream Boys - incorrect 9) Athens - incorrect 10) CJ Lewis - incorrect 11) Pass - incorrect 12) Pass - incorrect 13) Oliver Twist - incorrect 14) America - incorrect 15) Pass - incorrect
As well as biting back at Panesar, Smith confirmed Australia's team for the first Test in Perth, with two 31-year-old debutants included.
Opening batter Jake Weatherald and pace bowler Brendan Doggett are included in the starting XI, ending months of speculation specifically about Australia's opening partnership.
Marnus Labuschagne, who has been used as a makeshift opener, will bat back at his favoured No 3 position, thanks to the selection of Weatherald, who averages 37.47 in first-class cricket.
South Australia seamer Doggett comes in for the injured Josh Hazlewood while Scott Boland, as expected, replaces Cummins in a weakened Australia pace attack that also features left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.
All-rounder Cameron Green's recovery from injury means there's no place in the team for Beau Webster, who filled in impressively for seven Tests in Green's absence.
Australia XI for first Ashes Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.
All times UK and Ireland
