Cricket is often described as a team game but sometimes individual decisions can steal the spotlight. During a high-voltage Big Bash League clash between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder, a brief moment between Steve Smith and Babar Azam sparked conversation far beyond the boundary ropes.
The incident unfolded midway through the Sixers’ chase when Steve Smith made a clear choice to keep the strike instead of rotating it to Babar Azam. Steve Smith later admitted that his batting partner was visibly unhappy but explained that the decision was purely tactical. His focus was on maximising the Power Surge, a BBL rule that allows teams to take extra overs of fielding restrictions after the initial power play. Steve Smith wanted to face the bowling himself and target the shorter boundary, believing it was the perfect moment to attack.
The Sixers activated the Power Surge in the 11th over and Steve Smith’s gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. After refusing a single to stay on strike, he launched a stunning assault, smashing 32 runs off Ryan Hadley, the most ever scored in a single over in the BBL history. Steve Smith nearly kept the strike again for the following over but this time Babar Azam faced the first ball and was dismissed immediately.
The dismissal clearly hurt. Babar walked off angry, venting his frustration before leaving the field. His knock, though steady, lacked the explosive finish expected in T20 cricket, ending with 47 runs off 39 balls. It was another difficult outing in a tournament that has not gone smoothly for the Pakistani star.
Steve Smith later shared that he had discussed the Power Surge timing with the team leadership and backed his instinct to delay it by one over. His plan worked perfectly and he followed up the historic over by adding quick runs in the next. Steve Smith went on to score a breathtaking century off just 42 balls, guiding the Sixers to a comfortable win while chasing a daunting target of 190.
After the match, both the players stayed out of the spotlight, possibly to avoid further attention on the tense moment. Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Babar, whose BBL numbers have raised questions similar to those he faces at international level, admired for technique, yet often criticised for struggling to dominate the fast-paced demands of T20 cricket.
