Australian Test cricketer Beau Webster has found himself at the centre of controversy after a visible on-field disagreement with his Hobart Hurricanes teammates during their comprehensive Big Bash League defeat to the Sydney Sixers on Friday night. The tense incident unfolded during a frustrating night in the field for the Hurricanes, who ultimately fell well short in their chase.
On-Field Tensions Boil Over
The flashpoint occurred during the 14th over of the Sixers' innings, when Webster was bowling to Lachlan Shaw. Shaw crunched a boundary through the cover region, which appeared to be a well-executed shot. However, a visibly furious Webster believed the ball could have been stopped had fielder Mitch Owen been positioned correctly on the circle, rather than pushing in closer to the bat.
Webster immediately confronted Owen, with the exchange captured clearly by broadcast cameras. Channel 7 commentator and cricket legend Ricky Ponting provided analysis of the situation, noting Webster's clear frustration with his teammate's fielding position.
Captain Wade Drawn Into Dispute
After completing his over, Webster continued to express his displeasure, glancing back at Owen with further words. The situation then escalated when Hurricanes captain Matthew Wade became involved in the discussion at the end of the over.
"Did you tell him to go?" Webster asked Wade, referring to Owen's fielding position. Wade responded firmly: "I saw you tell him to go. I didn't tell him to stay in."
Webster remained visibly agitated after the confrontation, shaking his head while fielding on the boundary rope. Wade, who was wearing a microphone during the match, later explained: "I saw him talking to Mitch on the circle there and I think Mitch was daydreaming. So wasn't too happy, but that's just Beau."
Post-Match Reconciliation
Despite the heated exchange during play, there appeared to be no lasting animosity between the players. Webster and Owen were seen chatting and smiling together after the innings concluded, suggesting the incident was simply a moment of high-pressure frustration rather than a deeper conflict.
Sixers Dominate With Bat and Ball
The on-field tensions came during what proved to be a dominant performance from the Sydney Sixers, who posted an imposing total of 8-198 from their 20 overs. Steve Smith continued his excellent form with the bat, top-scoring for the fifth consecutive innings with 65 runs from just 43 deliveries.
Smith's innings was particularly impressive, featuring consecutive boundaries off Riley Meredith in the second over and a six that sailed into the Brewongle Stand. The former Australian captain brought up his third half-century of the tournament with a cut shot that raced to the boundary.
Hurricanes' Chase Falls Apart
Chasing 199 for victory, the Hobart Hurricanes lost both openers early during the powerplay but showed some resistance through a 48-run partnership between Webster (24) and Ben McDermott (40). However, the innings collapsed dramatically after Webster was dismissed just before the drinks break.
The Hurricanes lost four wickets for just 14 runs, with Matthew Wade and Nikhil Chaudhary falling to consecutive deliveries from Joel Davies. The Sixers' allrounder had an outstanding night, contributing 27 runs with the bat and taking 2-17 with the ball, including a spectacular one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Wade.
The Hobart innings eventually folded for 141 in the 18th over, handing the Sixers a comprehensive 57-run victory in front of 31,127 enthusiastic fans at the SCG.
Looking Ahead to the Final
The victory sets up an intriguing BBL final, with the Sydney Sixers now travelling to Perth to face the Scorchers for the championship. This marks the sixth time in 15 BBL seasons that these two powerhouse teams have met in the decider.
Sixers player Joel Davies expressed confidence after the match, stating: "Setting a total of 198, we knew it should definitely be enough. To put a performance on like that with the ball, it was awesome."
Smith Shrugs Off Azam Departure
Earlier in the match, Steve Smith had shrugged off the sudden departure of opening partner Babar Azam, who left abruptly for Pakistan national team duties. Davies commented on Azam's absence: "It was obviously pretty unfortunate timing and seeing him go, but he was great to have around the group. He'll be missed."
Stand-in Hurricanes captain Ben McDermott acknowledged Smith's match-winning contribution, admitting: "We had solid plans against him, we tried to do different things and he was just all over everything. Just a top-quality player, tough to contain."
The match also marked a milestone for Daniel Hughes, who played his 100th BBL game as Azam's replacement. While his contribution was modest, it still exceeded seven of Azam's twelve innings this summer.
Mitchell Starc also played a crucial role for the Sixers, taking 2-27 and dismissing the out-of-form Mitch Owen early in the Hurricanes' chase to set the tone for their comprehensive victory.
