Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Monty Panesar has called on the England players and media to target Steve Smith. The former England spinner said the visitors need to get under Smith’s skin by mentioning sandpaper and that it’s not right he’s captain.

Smith will lead Australia in the first Test in Perth with Pat Cummins recovering from a back injury. The number four has a magnificent record as captain, averaging nearly 20 runs more per innings as skipper, but Panesar believes England must sledge Smith to try get him off his game.

England should say that it’s not ethical Steve Smith is the captain – Monty Panesar

“Ben Stokes and the England team have got to make Steve Smith feel guilty and play on that,” Panesar said in an interview with aceodds.com.

“Say something like, ‘I don’t think it’s ethical that he’s the captain, I don’t think he played the game fairly’.

“Really get into him and make him feel guilty about it [sandpaper]. Make him feel like. ‘they’re probably right, I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be doing this.’”

England fans are often quick to mention sandpaper in the seven years since Cape Town. Panesar believes the players and media need to do the same.

“They say, ‘look, we’re getting the ball to swing guys and we’re not even using sandpaper and you’re missing it, what’s going on?’”

“Things like that get into his head because the Australians would do the same,” Panesar continued.

“If it was the opposite, the Australian media would be all over it. They would have said, if it was any of the English players, ‘the cheaters have arrived’. Right?”

The first Ashes Test begins on November 21. Steve Smith averages 56.01 in 37 Tests against England, including 1,417 runs in home Ashes matches.