The Sydney Sixers have been strengthened by the return of their Australian stars Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc. Smith, who has been given the opportunity to open the innings alongside Babar Azam, has not had the best chemistry as opening partners.
The Sydney Sixers are a very promising team 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 only managed 4 wins in 8 matches and are in fifth place in the points table.
Going into game nine and their second Sydney derby against the Sydney Thunder, the Sixers marked the return of many of their key players. Steve Smith returned after the completion of the Ashes, while Mitchell Starc returned to the BBl after 11 years. Sam Curran, meanwhile, has also joined the Sixers after winning the ILT20 with the Desert Vipers.
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Steve Smith and Babar Azam lose the ball as David Warner hits one straight over the player’s head.
As the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder met for the second time in this edition of the BBL, Thunder captain David Warner held his own with the bat. Warner scored his third century for the Thunder in the match.
While batting on 82, he hit Ben Manenti just above his head and the ball came straight as an arrow. Steve Smith and Babar Azam, positioned at long-off, were quick to stop the ball, but Azam failed to dive when he could have easily stopped the ball from rolling towards the fence.
Steve Smith, the other fielder, who is also known to be one of the most acrobatic fielders in Australian history, was shocked by the Pakistani’s lack of enough effort and couldn’t help but express his frustration to the fellow cricketer.
Steve Smith shows intent in BBL, gives fielding lessons to Babar Azam
Steve Smith never fails to surprise fans, but this time, he literally surprised Babar Azam. The great Australian, who brings immense energy and spirit on the field, gave Babar Azam a fielding lesson in the last few balls of that over.
Smith ran down the boundary line and stopped a ball that was smashed by Nick Maddinson, but this time into Smith’s side. He dived, stopped the ball, stood up and then bowled it back to restrict the batsmen to just 2 runs.
Babar Azam, during that time, blocked Steve Smith’s view and did not bother in a concerted effort to pair up with the Australian to collect the ball and return it. Instead, the commentator yelled, “Get out of the way, Babar!”
“GET OUT OF THE WAY, BABAR!” 😂
How about these incidents with Steve Smith and Babar Azam? #bbl15 pYodo.twYottmyr.doohmetro/tnorthvmy7qnorthzvunknown
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) jtonorthyoutorand 16, 2026
Smith and Babar give Sydney Sixers impressive start on power play
Babar Azam and Steve Smith started the innings for the Sydney Sixers, and the Australian has had some special seasons in the BBL in recent years. Steve Smith has not only scored runs at the top but has also scored runs at a very high strike rate.
Babar had a steady start to his innings, playing in his own style with a good strike rate, but what Steve Smith did from the other end is called nothing but destruction. Smith, at the time of writing, was 88* off just 35 balls with 8 sixes already in the innings.
The two gave the Sydney Sixers an impressive start with 141 runs in 12.1 overs, and only 49 more runs were needed off 47 balls when Babar was finally dismissed, just 3 away from his third BBL half-century.
READ ALSO: Mitchell Starc absolutely destroyed by David Warner on BBL return after 11 years