‘That’s a farce’: Sixers through to BBL final as debate rages over ‘spirit of the game’

The Sydney Sixers have booked their place in the BBL final but not everyone is happy after they exploited a rule to win a thrilling match.

There was chaos at the death. Photo: Kayo Sports.

The Sydney Sixers are through to the the Big Bash final after a thrilling final-ball win over the Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger.

Batting first, the Strikers recovered from losing early wickets to post a competitive total of 167 off their 20 overs.

The Sixers were travelling along nicely in reply until captain Moises Henriques and Dan Christian were dismissed cheaply in the middle of the run chase.

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But the hero for the Sixers was Hayden Kerr, who was elevated to the top of the order and scored an incredible 98 not out to steer his side to victory.

Kerr was well supported by Sean Abbott’s cameo of 41 off 20 balls as the game went down to the wire.

The Sixers needed 12 runs off the last over to win and they were under the pump when the Strikers’ Harry Conway dismissed Abbott and then Ben Dwarshuis was run out.

Jordan Silk, who had left the field earlier with a hamstring injury, came to the crease and hit a single.

With Kerr doing the heavy lifting, he bombed a six then a two, and the Sixers needed two runs to win off the last ball. Then controversy erupted as Sydney made the bold call to retire Silk hurt to bring in a fit batter at the non-striker’s end who could sprint between the wickets.

Jay Lenton came out to the middle and Kerr hit the winning runs, with his shot going for four after a misfield.

Hayden Kerr was sensational for the Sydney Sixers. (Photo by Jason McCawley - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

The decision to retire Silk didn’t sit well with some former Australian greats.

“They’re going to retire him hurt,” Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket. “I do not know about this… I’m just not really sure about this.

“My gut feel says I don’t like it. The Sixers have said, ‘Well, there is a rulebook there and we’re going to exploit a rule here’.

“It’ll be questioned, the talk about spirit of cricket. But it is the rules and you can only acknowledge that.”

Mark Waugh added: “It’s within the rules, but it’s probably not in the spirit of the game.”

Cricket fans were divided by the Sixers’ call to bring Silk off the field, with some arguing it was a bad look for the game.

Sport presenter Paddy Sweeney tweeted: “That’s a farce. Send a bloke out to bat on one leg and two balls later retire him because he can’t run. Putrid.”

However, others praised the retirement as a shrewd tactic.

AAP’s Scott Bailey said: “Been calling for tactical retirements for years in T20 cricket. Good on them. Out, retired.”

The Sixers won through to the BBL final in controversial fashion. (Photo by Jason McCawley - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Reporter John Hunt agreed: “Jordan Silk’s ‘retirement’ is exactly the reason why we should stop wringing our hands about whether Mankad is within the ‘spirit of the game’ attitude.”

Sports journalist Liam Warren added: “Absolute huge brain play by the Sixers. You absolute beauty. Brilliant decision to retire Silk hurt to get someone out there who could run. Now to win it with a grade team.”

The result means the Sixers will take on the Perth Scorchers in Friday’s BBL|11 final at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

However, they might struggle to field a team of 11 fit players. Along with Silk, spinner Steve O’Keefe and Henriques are both nursing calf injuries, althrough Henriques said after the game he is likely to play.

Wicketkeeper Josh Philippe will miss the final after testing positive to Covid-19, while batter Daniel Hughes is racing the clock to recover from a sprained ankle.

They might be the walking wounded but the Sixers will be going for their third consecutive Big Bash title on Friday.