Cricket fans love their pre-match drama, but few expected Monty Panesar to steal the limelight in the build-up to England’s first Ashes Test in Australia.
The former England spinner, known for his quirky personality and passionate bowling days, decided to stir the pot by reminding everyone of past controversies, referencing the infamous “sandpaper scandal” involving Steve Smith and Australia.
His aim? A little psychological edge ahead of the opening Test.
But the mind games didn’t land quite as planned.
When Smith was asked about Panesar’s comments, he came prepared with a sharp rebuttal, pulling out the former spinner’s notorious 2019 BBC Celebrity Mastermind appearance—a moment that has since become legendary.
The Mastermind Debacle
So, what happened that made Panesar’s TV appearance such a talking point?
In his own words, he told Daily Mail Sport that it was “like the Titanic ramming the Hindenburg.”
On the show, Panesar performed respectably on his specialist subject—Sikh religion and its history—earning six points.
But things quickly went downhill in the general knowledge round, hosted by the ever-persistent John Humphrys.
Here’s a breakdown of the questions and his famously baffling answers.
Where It All Went Wrong
John Humphrys: How many pockets are there on a full-size snooker table?
Monty Panesar: Six. ✅ Correct
JH: Which sign of the zodiac is represented by a crab?
MP: Sagittar… Scorpion. ❌
JH: Cancer.
JH: What is the title of A.A. Milne’s stage adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows?
MP: Harry Potter ❌
JH: Toad of Toad Hall
JH: Henry VIII had three wives called Catherine, two called Anne, and another who died shortly after giving birth to Edward VI. What was her name?
MP: Elizabeth ❌
JH: Jane
JH: Standard international unit of absolute temperature? Indicated by K.
MP: Pass ❌
JH: Kelvin
JH: Which Asian island city-state is served by Changi International Airport?
MP: Shanghai ❌
JH: Singapore
JH: Birds described as pelagic spend most of their lives flying over what?
MP: The sky ❌
JH: The sea
JH: ’97 film where unemployed Sheffield men become strippers?
MP: The Dream Boys ❌
JH: The Full Monty
JH: City of the Olympiastadion, built for 1972 Olympics?
MP: Athens ❌
JH: Munich
JH: First published volume of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia?
MP: C.J. Lewis ❌
JH: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
JH: Kimberlite rock in South Africa is a rich source of what?
MP: Pass ❌
JH: Diamonds
JH: Hit musical tribute to Louis Jordan, five guys named?
MP: Pass ❌
JH: Five Guys Named Moe
JH: 1819 Keats poem describing a “season of mist and mellow fruitfulness”?
MP: Oliver Twist ❌
JH: Autumn
JH: City setting for TV series Cheers?
MP: America ❌
JH: Boston
JH: National survey in Britain every 10 years since 1801?
MP: … ❌
JH: Census
The Aftermath
Panesar finished the round with just seven points, leaving viewers both cringing and laughing.
Despite the on-screen flops, this quirky TV moment has only cemented his status as an unforgettable personality in English cricket.
Whether on the cricket pitch or under the harsh studio lights of Mastermind, Monty Panesar proves that he’s never far from the headlines—though perhaps best remembered for his charm rather than his general knowledge.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn