During the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026 match between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, Steve Smith made a call that surprised his batting partner Babar Azam. After winning the game, the Sydney Sixers batsman admitted that Babar was unhappy with his refusal to concede a run even when offered one.
Chasing a target of 190 on Friday, 16 January, Smith took charge of the Sydney Sixers with Babar at the helm. The right-handed batsman completed his century in just 41 balls. He hit four consecutive sixes and broke the Big Bash League record by scoring 32 runs in a power surge over bowled by Ryan Hadlee.
Steve Smith refused to give single to Babar Azam in BBL match
In the 11th over of the run chase, Steve Smith decided to stay on strike for a power surge. On the final ball of the over, he turned down an easy single after facing several dot balls from Babar Azam. Babar, who was batting on 47 off 38 balls, was clearly unhappy with the decision.
Smith immediately countered the call. He scored 32 runs off Ryan Hadlee in the first over of the Power Surge, which is the most runs scored in an over in the history of the Big Bash League. After this, he added 11 more runs in three balls in the next over and completed his century.
Babar was out on the very first ball of Nathan McAndrew. He walked away in despair and collided with the boundary cushion while coming back. He scored 47 runs in 39 balls at a strike rate of over 120, which was his best performance this season.
Smith scored 100 runs in 42 balls before getting out. Sydney Sixers chased down the target of 190 runs in 17.2 overs and won against Sydney Thunder by five wickets.
Not sure Babar Azam was very happy with me – Steve Smith
After the match, Steve Smith said that there was a discussion with the captain and coach about taking power surge after 10 overs. He admitted that the decision to refuse to take the single was justified, but also admitted that Babar Azam was not happy with it.
“We talked at the ten-over mark, and he [the captain and coach] “Just accept the bounce,” Smith told Channel 7.
“I was like, ‘No, give it one over. I want to hit short boundaries. I don’t want to waste the first over. I will try to score 30 runs in that over.’ [I] Think we got 32, so that was a good result. I’m not sure Babar was very happy with my response to that single,” he added.
Babar Azam missing after the match due to continuing argument
After the match, Babar Azam was not seen on the field when the players were talking and it was not clear whether he would return later or not. Australian media also reported that Steve Smith did not attend the post-match press conference, possibly to avoid further discussion about the incident.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc, who was playing his first Big Bash League match in 11 years, said he had no idea what had happened. He said that in T20 cricket, batsmen often look for favorable matches, just as bowlers plan their overs.
Babar has so far scored 201 runs at an average of 28.71 and strike rate of 107.48. Although he is considered a technically strong batsman, there remain concerns over his ability to be consistently successful in high-scoring T20 games.
Also read: Steve Smith launches 107 meter monster six in BBL, teaches Babar Azam how to bat in T20 cricket