Shooting Cooper Connolly: Australia’s 22-year-old star
The change came in the shadow of controversy from the Sixers’ previous game against the Sydney Thunder, where Babar’s approach at the top drew criticism despite the team winning by five wickets. In that game, Smith smashed his way to a 41-ball century as the pair added 141 for the first wicket. However, Babar scored 47 off 39 balls, with his strike rate becoming the talk of the town. The tension was visible during that partnership when in the 11th over, Smith dismissed a single after Babar played three consecutive dots. Looking to take the lead during the Power Surge, Smith held the strike and settled by crushing Ryan Hadley’s 32 runs in the next game, the most runs scored in a single game in the league’s 15-year history. Babar looked miserable at that point and after being dismissed off the very next ball he faced, he came back furiously and hit the bat on the boundary pad. Sunday’s setback did not strengthen Babar’s case much. His numbers in the tournament paint a worrying picture. From 10 matches, he scored 202 runs at an average of 25.26 and a strike rate of 104.12. Among batsmen who have faced at least 100 balls this season, only Cameron Bancroft and Mohammad Rizwan have scored slower. Despite Babar’s struggles, the Sixers got the job done. Brisbane Heat posted 171 for 9 after being sent in, Nathan McSweeney top-scoring with an unbeaten 69 off 54 balls. Mitchell Starc led the bowling effort for Sydney with an impressive four-wicket haul while Sam Curran took two wickets. In the chase, Steve Smith leveled the innings with 54 off 40 balls before Sam Curran produced a match-winning unbeaten 53 off 27 deliveries. The Sixers reached the target in 18.4 overs to seal a five-wicket win, with Curran named man of the match. The win secured the Sydney Sixers a place in the first qualifier against the Perth Scorchers at Perth Stadium on 20 January. However, questions about form and pace in the Big Bash League continue to mount for Babar Azam.