At high voltage Big Bash League (BBL) Clash at the SCG on Friday 16 January 2026, a tactical masterclass Steve Smith led to a historic victory for Sydney Sixers but created a visible rift with his opening partner, Babar Azam.
Despite sharing a massive 141-run partnership, the game was defined by a moment of friction in the 11th over when Smith denied the former Pakistan captain a single to save the strike. The decision was a turning point as Smith justified his gamble by cracking the most expensive game in BBL history immediately after the break. What started as a strategic masterclass from Smith turned into a visible result that saw Babar fuming both on and off the field.
Steve Smith explains why he refused to give Babar Azam a holiday
The friction started in the 11th minute when Babar, who was struggling with a three-point ball, tried to turn the shot. Smith adamantly rejected the single, ignoring the coach’s orders to take the Power Surge early. Smith’s rejection was a high bet on his ability to dominate the short boundary, essentially ruling out the former Pakistan captain. While Smith justified his move by smashing four consecutive sixes and scoring the most expensive 32 runs in BBL history, the sniper visibly darkened in the mid-wicket as he felt his skills were being undermined by Babar’s partner.
“We spoke at the ten-point mark and they (captain and coach) immediately said take the promotion. I said, ‘No, not one. I want to reach the short boundary. I don’t want to break the first one. I’ll try to get 30 down after that”. (I think we got 32 so Babar was a good result too.” Smith told Channel 7.
After Babar’s dismissal and absence after the match, his angry speech
Frustration finally boiled over with the dismissal of Babar Azam, which many pundits believe was a direct result of being left out of the strike by Smith. After being denied a single in the 11th over and having to watch Smith dominate the Power Surge from the non-striker side, Babar lost his rhythm and focus.
In the 13th over, facing his first ball after a strategic stroke, the Pakistani star attempted a tired-looking shot. Nathan McAndrew but could only return the ball to his stumps for 47. His reaction was immediate and explosive; Babar’s composure broke as he turned to return to the dungeon. He furiously hits the boundary pad with his bat and proceeds to fume as he disappears into the tunnel, skipping the traditional post-match handshakes and celebrations altogether.
Miscommunication between Smith and Babar at SCG
The tension was first seen during pitching long before the pair picked up their bats. In a sequence that left the commentary box in tatters, the ball was hit in the gap between Smith and Babar; the Pakistani star remained motionless and failed to dive, leaving a shocked Smith to watch the ball race.
The ball hit the same spot on the next delivery, but this time Smith took a desperate dive to stop the boundary. Babar stood directly in Smith’s line of sight as Smith rose to take the ball and throw, prompting the mocking commentator to shout: “Get out of the way, Babar!” The moment captured the connection between the two perfectly, as they were operating on completely different wavelengths.
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