Monty Panesar: Steve Smith's Celebrity Mastermind Blunder Gave England an Unexpected Advantage in Ashes First Test

MONTY PANESAR reckons Steve Smith “wasn’t himself” in Perth after their mutual mud-slinging on the eve of the Ashes.

over his calamitous Celebrity Mastermind performance in response to the former spinner needling him over the ball-tampering fiasco that once cost him the captaincy.

Panesar thinks his spat with Smith impacted the Aussie’s performanceCredit: Getty Smith needed medical attention after being hit in the elbowCredit: EPA

Panesar was on Aussie soil when Smith led out his squad as the stand-in skipper for Friday’s First Test.

And he concluded, after a troubled day for the 36-year-old, that their tense back-and-forth had clearly had an effect.

Panesar told SunSport: “[Smith] wasn’t himself today. Maybe talking about Celebrity Mastermind was a bit too extreme.

“I think he helped the England team. I think he did. They are superstars, they rose to the occasion and they are very much on top.

“We’ve both made our mistakes. His was obviously on a cricket field for ball tampering. We’ve just got to learn from our mistakes and move on.”

had an off day with the bat as he was bowled by Brydon Carse and caught by Harry Brook for only 17 runs.

Prior to that, Smith was left in agony by a fast ball to the elbow and required several minutes of medical attention.

And it all played out amid a backdrop of England’s travelling fans teasing him with chants as they sided with Panesar.

The tourists’ backs were against the wall after electing to bat first as bowled them out for 172.

But they came roaring back with an electric bowling performance which included five wickets for and two each for and Carse, as Australia finished the day on 123-9.

Panesar added: “Jofra Archer set the tone today. He was absolutely brilliant with his pace and made a big, big difference.

“Then, Ben Stokes came and got those five wickets. He just stood up to the challenge. The fast bowlers rose to the occasion.

“Jofra’s wicket in the first over was pure pace, plumb lbw. It just set the tone for England.

“The bowling in that spell towards Marnus Labuschagne and Smith was unbelievable. Probably the best we’ve seen for a long time.”

Smith took aim at Panesar on the eve of the AshesCredit: PA Panesar played the last of his 50 England tests in 2013Credit: Graham Hughes – The Times