WATCH: Rishi Sunak hits back at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with 'sandpaper gate' remark amidst Ashes banter

In a funny encounter at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his British colleague Rishi Sunak exchanged some funny moments. This came when Albanese handed Sunak a piece of paper with the current Ashes series score of '2 -1' while they posed for photographs.

Sunak, on the other hand, displayed a photograph of English batters Mark Woods and Chris Woakes enjoying their victory in Leeds. Sunak also took the 'sandpaper gate' incident. Due to their role in the 2018'sandpapergate' controversy, Australian players Steve Smith and David Warner have been booed regularly by English cricket fans this summer. It exploded when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera sandpapering one side of the ball during a match against South Africa. Both Smith and Warner were proven to be involved and were given 12-month suspensions.

Here's the video

And of course we discussed the #Ashes pic.twitter.com/FeKESkb062

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 11, 2023

The Aussie Prime Minister stated, "I caught up with Prime Minister @RishiSunak to discuss progress with AUKUS, technology transfer, and economic challenges, as well as the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement." "And of course, we discussed the #Ashes." Trying not to be outdone, Albanese said, "I was going to be really provocative", and pulled out a photo of Bairstow being controversially run out in the second Test. "I’m sorry I didn’t bring my sandpaper with me," Sunak replied promptly, referring to a previous ball-tampering scandal from 2018."

Due to their role in the 2018'sandpapergate' controversy, Australian players Steve Smith and David Warner have been booed regularly by English cricket fans this summer. It exploded when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera sandpapering one side of the ball during a match against South Africa. Both Smith and Warner were proven to be involved and were given 12-month suspensions.

Taking to Twitter, Sunak wrote, "I promised Anthony Albanese I’d give him one of our ministerial folders. Naturally, it came with a little reminder of last weekend … two more to go."

On Tuesday, the Australian Prime Minister defended his country's Ashes cricket squad after his British counterpart argued a dismissal during the second Test was against the spirit of the game. England made a comeback in the third Test, but they must win the final two matches to win the series. Australia, on the other hand, remains the frontrunner. The fourth Ashes test is set to begin on 19th July at Manchester.