Sydney Sixers have been strengthened by the return of their Australia stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc. Smith, who has been handed the opportunity to open the innings alongside Babar Azam, has not had the finest of chemistry as opening partners.
The Sydney Sixers are a very promising side in the history of the Big Bash League, having won it on multiple occasions. However, this time in the 15th edition of the competition, they have managed just 4 wins out of 8 games and are placed fifth in the points table.
Going into the 9th match and in their second Sydney derby against the Sydney Thunder side, the Sixers marked the return of many of their premier players. Steve Smith made his return after the completion of the Ashes, while Mitchell Starc has returned to the BBl after 11 years. Sam Curran, on the other hand, has also joined the Sixers after winning the ILT20 with the Desert Vipers.
Steve Smith and Babar Azam fumble as David Warner launches one straight over the bowler’s head
As the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder met the second time in this edition of the BBL, the Thunder’s skipper, David Warner, stood strong with the bat. Warner scored his third century for the Thunder in the match.
While he was batting on 82, he smashed off-spinner Ben Manenti right back over his head, and the ball went straight like an arrow. Steve Smith and Babar Azam, positioned at long-off and long-on, rushed to stop the ball, but Azam did not put in a dive when he could have easily stopped the ball from rolling into the fence.
Steve Smith, the other fielder, who is also known to be one of the most acrobatic fielders in Australian history, was amazed by the lack of sufficient effort from the Pakistani and could not stop himself from expressing his frustration to the fellow cricketer.
Steve Smith shows intent in BBL, gives fielding lessons to Babar Azam
Steve Smith never fails to amaze the fans, but this time, he has literally shocked Babar Azam. The Australian great, who sparks immense energy and spirit on the field, gave Babar Azam a fielding lesson in the very last balls of that over.
Smith ran down the boundary line and stopped a ball that was smashed by Nick Maddinson, but this time towards Smith’s side. He dove, stopped the ball, got back to his feet, and then threw it back to restrict the batters to just 2 runs.
Babar Azam, during that time, blocked Steve Smith’s sight and did not bother with a joint effort to pair up with the Australian to pick the ball and throw it back. Instead, the commentator screamed, “get out of the way, Babar!”
“GET OUT THE WAY, BABAR!” 😂
How about these incidents with Steve Smith and Babar Azam 🫣 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/Tnve7qNZvx
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 16, 2026
Smith and Babar give the Sydney Sixers a stunning start in the powerplay
Babar Azam and Steve Smith started the innings for the Sydney Sixers, and the Australian has had some special seasons in the BBL over the past few years. Steve Smith has not only been scoring runs at the top, but he has also scored runs at a very high strike rate.
Babar had a steady start to his innings, playing in his own style with an okayish strike rate, but what Steve Smith did from the other end is called nothing but destruction. Smith, at the time of writing, was on 88* off just 35 balls with 8 sixes already in the innings.
The two gave the Sydney Sixers a stunning start with 141 runs in 12.1 overs, and just 49 more runs were needed off 47 balls when Babar was finally dismissed, just 3 short of his third BBL half-century.
ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc absolutely destroyed by David Warner on BBL return after 11 years
