It was the moment that lit up the BBL and perhaps raised the temperature Sydney Sixers‘ shelter. Friday during a high-octane clash Sydney Thunder, Steve Smith made a controversial call to a teammate to refuse to be left alone Babar Azamdenies him a holiday. While Smith immediately confirmed his decision with a record-breaking 32 runs in the very next over, Babar looked visibly frustrated and the wicketkeeper lost his moments as a result. Now the Sixers star is back Mitchell Starc broke his silence on the incident, offering a bowler’s perspective on the “friction” between the two batting giants.
Mitchell Starc reacts to the Steve Smith-Babar Azam controversy
Starc, who made his long-awaited return to the BBL after an 11-year hiatus, initially played down his drama with characteristic diplomacy. Despite being in the dugout, the veteran pacer admitted that he missed the specific moment of the rejection live.
“I didn’t actually see it. I heard something from someone else a while ago…so I’ll have to go and check it out and comment.” Starc appeared in the post-match press.
However, he shifted the focus from the personal conflict to the scorecard, noting: “Obviously he (Smith) saw a matchup he liked and took it for 34 or 32, something like that.”
Rather than dwell on the optics on the field, Starc defended Smith’s decision as a prime example of modern T20 evolution. He emphasized that in the Power surge — the two-innings limits that batting teams can claim — individual matches often outperform the traditional rotation of the strike.
“That’s what we want in a big increase. We’ve faced teams that have batted as well – you see a matchup that’s better or whatever. So, yes, Smithy liked that matchup and took him (the bowler).” Starc explained.
Also READ: Fans go wild as Steve Smith’s historic century takes Sixers past Thunder in Sydney derby in BBL|15.
Starc dismisses rumors of rift between Smith and Babar
According to Starc, Smith’s refusal was not an indifference to Babar’s ability, but a calculated tactical gamble to exploit the short boundary. Ryan Hadley– a gamble that results in four consecutive sixes.
Finally, Starc tried to quell any rumors of a rift between the team’s two superstars. He reminded fans that both Smith and Babar are seasoned veterans who understand that spur-of-the-moment decisions are part of the game.
“(They are) two guys who have played a lot of international cricket, two guys who love to perform and it was one of our best partnerships.” Stark concluded. With the Sixers securing a five-wicket victory and Smith scoring a match-winning century, Starc’s message was clear: the result justifies the method and the Sixers focus on the next 48 hours, not the previous one.
Also READ: Steve Smith explains why not to rely on Babar Azam for ‘power surges’ during BBL|15
