The high-stakes Sydney Derby on January 16, 2026, produced one of the most talked-about tactical disagreements in Big Bash League history when Steve Smith denied his opening partner, Babar Azam, a routine single during the Sydney Sixers’ chase of 191 at the SCG.
The incident unfolded on the final delivery of the 11th over, bowled by spinner Chris Green. Babar, who was batting on 47 and had just navigated three consecutive dot balls, nudged a delivery toward long-on and set off for a run to retain the strike.
However, Smith—standing at the non-striker’s end—firmly stood his ground and sent the former Pakistan captain back, a move that left Babar visibly fuming and gesturing in frustration. Following the match, Smith provided a detailed explanation for this “denial,” framing it as a calculated, high-risk tactical gamble centered on the Power Surge.
Smith revealed that during a consultation at the 10-over mark, Sixers captain Moises Henriques and the coaching staff had urged him to take the two-over Power Surge immediately. Smith, however, overruled the captain, requesting one more “regular” over to ensure he was on strike at the start of the 12th over.
Smith’s reasoning was twofold: he wanted to align the Power Surge with the SCG’s specific dimensions and ensure he was the one facing the first over of the surge to maximize a “match-up” against the Thunder’s pace attack. “I told Moises, ‘Give me one more over.
I want to target that short boundary, and I reckon I can take 30 off it,'” Smith explained in his post-match interview. By refusing Babar the single on the final ball of the 11th over, Smith ensured he would face the first ball of the 12th over against Ryan Hadley.
The decision was vindicated in spectacular, record-breaking fashion as Smith proceeded to dismantle Hadley for 32 runs in a single over—the most expensive in BBL history—hitting four consecutive sixes followed by a boundary. While Smith’s brilliance effectively killed the contest, it came at the cost of Babar’s rhythm.
Having spent several minutes at the non-striker’s end watching Smith’s carnage, Babar faced the first ball of the 13th over from Nathan McAndrew and was immediately bowled for 47.
His frustration boiled over as he exited the field, smashing the boundary cushions with his bat in a rare display of public anger.
Smith admitted afterward, “I’m not sure Babar was too happy with me knocking back that single,” but maintained that in the data-driven world of T20 cricket, securing the strike for the “big over” was the objectively superior play for the team’s victory.
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