When magenta dreams meet harsh Australian reality
On paper, recruiting one of world cricket’s most prolific Twenty‑20 run‑scorers should have been a masterstroke. Babar Azam, the elegant Pakistani batter with an enviable cover drive, joined the Sydney Sixers for the 2025‑26 Big Bash League (BBL) season amid much fanfare. Yet just two matches into his stint, the dream start turned into a narrative of mis‑timed strokes and early walks back to the pavilion. In their opener against the Perth Scorchers, Babar managed only two runs from five balls. In the follow‑up fixture against Adelaide Strikers, he fared slightly better, reaching nine from ten deliveries before a hard‑length ball from Luke Wood was spooned to mid‑wicket. For a man used to bossing attacks in Pakistan and beyond, the sight of him struggling to time the ball felt jarring.
I remember sitting up late to catch his home debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The ground was speckled with magenta and pockets of Pakistani flags. There was a buzz when Babar took guard – phones out, fans shouting his name. Two balls into Luke Wood’s opening over, he whipped a trademark flick through mid‑wicket, and the crowd roared. But that joy was fleeting. In the third over, he jabbed a hard‑length delivery straight to a waiting fielder. The cheers turned into groans. For a long‑time follower of Pakistan cricket, it felt like watching an artist mislay his brush.
Numbers tell the story (so far)
It isn’t just about one poor shot. Babar’s early BBL returns – 2 and 9 – mean he’s yet to reach double figures in the competition. The Strikers match report on ESPNcricinfo notes that “Babar Azam’s sluggish start … continued” and that he again perished to a hard‑length delivery. The Times of India’s report points out that wicketkeeper Josh Philippe top‑scored with 46 while Babar’s contribution of nine off ten balls was a footnote. ProSports, a Pakistan‑based portal, goes further, saying Babar “looked uncomfortable at the crease,” failing to adjust to the pace and bounce, and eventually picking out Matthew Short when attempting a lofted shot.
It isn’t just Babar either. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan – Pakistan’s other marquee BBL imports – also struggled in their opening games. Only all‑rounder Shadab Khan made an early impact.
That pattern hints at a broader issue: the adjustment from subcontinental pitches to the extra bounce and pace of Australian wickets. Even accomplished batters need time to recalibrate their approach.
Digging deeper: why is the adjustment so hard?One factor is obvious: conditions. Australian surfaces reward bowlers who hit the deck hard, which is precisely how Luke Wood dismissed Babar on both occasions. ProSports observed that he looked “uncomfortable at the crease” and struggled with bounce.that he jabbed at a hard‑length ball “tamely to midwicket” after only briefly settling
It is notable that he jabbed at a hard‑length ball “tamely to midwicket” after only briefly settling
Another element is rhythm. Unlike some BBL recruits who arrive after playing domestic cricket in Australia, Babar entered the tournament cold. He had captained Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the summer and then rested. As the ICC points out, he has scored only two half‑centuries in T20 internationals since the last World Cup.
His form has declined significantly, dropping him to 31st in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
This sort of lean patch can dent even the most confident player.
Finally, expectations weigh heavily. Babar arrived in Sydney as one of the world’s premier batters and arguably the league’s biggest signing. Social media was abuzz with highlight reels and predictions. When he fell cheaply in his debut, criticism was swift. NDTV’s report quoted mocking tweets suggesting he was “just two bad innings” away from being written off. The same platform compiled clips of trolls questioning why the Sixers signed him. That noise is hard to ignore, especially for a player proud of his reputation.
Inside the dressing room: quiet backing and perspective
While fans grumble, those within the Sixers’ camp preach patience. Josh Philippe, Australia’s wicketkeeper‑batter and Babar’s teammate, has publicly thrown his weight behind the Pakistani star. Speaking to the ICC, Philippe called Babar “a world‑class player” and insisted it was only a matter of time before he found his touch.
He acknowledged that adapting to Australia’s bouncy surfaces can be challenging but predicted that “a couple of games under the belt, a few more sessions, he’ll be absolutely fine.”
Philippe said Babar’s record is outstanding. He has “no doubt he’ll be in the runs next game.”
Philippe’s faith isn’t blind loyalty; it’s grounded in respect for Babar’s body of work. The 28‑year‑old himself has started the season well with a team‑high 46 against Adelaide.
He’s also realistic enough to know that his own form could dip. His willingness to bat at No. 3 to let Babar open and regain his rhythm speaks volumes about the team ethos.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully putting on a big partnership with Babar and learning from him out in the middle,” he said, adding that the team enjoys having him around.
The ICC article contextualises Philippe’s remarks: Babar is using his BBL stint as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup and is still adjusting.
It notes that he arrived with “a pair of single-figure scores” but emphasises he is in Australia to find form
That long‑term view is crucial. Babar isn’t just auditioning for the Sixers; he’s fine‑tuning his game for Pakistan’s World Cup campaign.
Balancing criticism and hope: what history tells us
It’s tempting to overreact to two low scores, especially when they come from a player of Babar’s calibre. Critics argue that his strike rate can dip and that he sometimes chews up deliveries, but his T20 record is hard to ignore. Babar has over 3,500 runs in T20 internationals and boasts an average north of 40. He has navigated conditions in England’s Vitality Blast, the Caribbean Premier League, and the Pakistan Super League. Each time, he needed an adjustment period before delivering match‑winning knocks.
An anecdote from his early PSL days illustrates this. Back in 2016, Babar struggled to accelerate for Islamabad United and faced online backlash similar to today’s. By the following season, he was leading Karachi Kings’ run charts, scoring elegant fifties and eventually captaining Pakistan’s national team to a T20 World Cup final. Consistency in a new league rarely comes overnight.
Even within this BBL campaign, there were positives: in the Adelaide game, he looked more composed than in Perth, registering his maiden boundary with a crisp flick. Another telling sign is his approach at the crease. Instead of playing reckless shots to silence critics, he has tried to rotate strike and build a platform, as noted in SportsTak’s detailed ball‑by‑ball account.
What lies ahead for Babar and the Sixers?The Sixers, a historically successful franchise, have started the season 0‑2, but it’s early days. The team has shown glimpses of resilience through Josh Philippe’s attacking strokeplay and Jack Edwards’ all‑round contributions.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Strikers’ Jamie Overton pointed out after the match that his team always felt the chase was under control. Hinting that the Sixers are not firing on all cylinders.
For Babar, the road ahead involves both technical tweaks and mental recalibration. Spending more time in the middle will help him get used to the extra bounce. Acknowledging the challenge of batting on Australian pitches, he’s likely working closely with coaches to adjust his back‑foot game. In practice, he has looked in good touch; reports from the Sixers’ nets mention crisp drives and extended sessions.
Above all, he has the backing of those who matter. The ICC headline itself – “Babar Azam tipped to find form prior to 2026 T20 World Cup” – underscores that confidence
Philippe isn’t the only supportive voice; privately, coaches see this as a temporary blip. The Sixers signed Babar for more than flash and hype; they want his composure and experience in crunch moments later in the tournament.
Thoughts
Watching a superstar falter can be uncomfortable, particularly when you’ve built him up in your mind. Yet cricket fans know the sport is cyclical. Form can desert even the best, and conditions can make geniuses look ordinary. In Babar Azam’s case, the bigger story may not be two low scores but how he responds. Will he adapt his technique to the Australian bounce? Will he shrug off social‑media snark and find his groove before the T20 World Cup?
If you ask his teammate Josh Philippe, the answer is simple: “His record is outstanding. I have no doubt he’ll be in the runs next game.”
That confidence reflects the faith a dressing room has in a proven performer. For now, fans would do well to remember that even the most fluent batsmen sometimes need a few innings to get the brush strokes right.
