Monty Panesar stated that his tactic to "rattle" Australian captain Steve Smith by referencing Panesar's 2019 appearance on Celebrity Mastermind ahead of the latest Ashes series was successful. Panesar suggested England should use psychological tactics against Australia, and he brought up Smith's infamous ball-tampering scandal from 2018 as a potential point of contention.
Smith, in turn, publicly criticized Panesar's poor performance on the quiz show, referencing his struggles with general knowledge. Panesar responded by acknowledging his poor quiz show performance but contrasted it with ball-tampering, stating he would rather be known for bad general knowledge than cheating.
He argued that Smith's reaction indicated mental weakness, which England could exploit, pointing to Smith's uncharacteristic batting performance in Perth as evidence that England had gained a psychological edge. Reflecting on his career, Panesar expressed his greatest happiness came from playing for England, citing a memorable Ashes performance in Cardiff in 2009.
He also discussed his upbringing and the significance of becoming the first Sikh to represent England, exceeding his initial goal of playing just one Test match. Panesar also offered advice for his younger self, wishing he had not read the press so much and had focused on improving his all-around game rather than solely his bowling, which he believes could have opened up opportunities in T20 leagues.
He described his pre-match rituals, including putting on his right shoe first and reading a newspaper with tea, which helped him relax and focus. Looking forward, Panesar expressed interest in a career in sports journalism and punditry.
