Steve Smith’s first-ball ‘commentators curse’ leaves BBL in disbelief

Steve Smith’s life as an opener started in worrying fashion on with the batter falling for a duck after some banter from David Warner.

Australia is hoping this is not a sign of things to come for Steve Smith as the new Test opener.

At a sold out SCG for the second Sydney Smash of the season headlined by Smith and David Warner going head-to-head, the crowd was left stunned when Smith was dismissed off the very first ball of the game.

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While the big name batters were the draw, it was the bowlers that stood up with a starring performance from Sixers spinner Stephen O’Keefe taking 3/13 off four overs to claim a 20 run win.

The results end the Thunder’s season, while the Sixers move up to second on the BBL ladder.

While Warner had made plenty of headlines for his arrival in a helicopter from his brother’s wedding, Smith was hoping to replicate his last performance against the Thunder — a 125 not out off 66 balls in the last BBL.

But it was about as far away from that innings as possible as Smith was removed from the first ball.

No Steve no. Photo: Fox Sports

Smith wasn't happy. Photo: Fox Sports

Thunder bowler Daniel Sams bowled a short ball across Smith which caught the top edge but was caught on the square leg boundary by Nathan McAndrew.

It let some of the air out of the occasion as fans wanted to see the two Aussie heroes in a rare BBL appearance light up the match.

Unfortunately for Smith, he was copping it from all angles as he came out.

With Warner mic’ed up for Fox Cricket, he couldn’t help himself but to sledge as he walked out near his great mate, as you can see in the video at the top of the page.

After fist bumping, Warner said: “He’s got his tennis swing on I reckon him and Novak Djokovic are mates now,” as Smith mocked tennis shots with his bat, referencing the Night with Novak event where Smith returned a full-pace serve, much to the tennis legend’s surprise.

But from there, it was all business as Smith appeared to block Warner out.

Mark Waugh asked: “Are you trying to distract him there? Get under his skin a bit?”

Warner replied, obviously within earshot: “Nothing’s distracting him, nothing ever distracts him. Actually, he’s got a bit of a mark on his foot there. But he might be a bit fidgety about that.”

Smith then tried to mark centre, Warner butting in saying: “That’s not centre, a little to the right. Mate, if you open the batting, you’ve got to mark it properly. One go only. Nah, he’s locked in.”

Warner was being a pest. Photo: Fox Cricket

Warner’s words weren’t the only thing rattling around though, as captain Chris Green was mic’ed up for Seven and called for a first ball “commentators curse” on Smith.

“Any chance of a commentator’s curse first ball? Against them please,” Green said.

It appears the cricket gods were with Green.

After the wicket, the commentators were stunned.

“I don’t think anybody can believe that,” Mark Howard said on Fox Cricket.

“I don’t think Steve Smith has mis-hit one for the Sixers in two seasons, I can’t believe that,” Mark Waugh added.

“It is a pretty hard shot to play first ball.”

The Sixers struggled for the most part, reaching 7/151 after losing regular wickets.

Usual opener Josh Philippe top scored with 47 off 35 balls, while 35 from Jordan Silk and 27 from James Vince helped the hosts to a competitive score.

It turned out to be enough as the Thunder, who had raced to 0/44 after four overs, slumped to 6/90 by the first ball of the 16th over.

Warner top scored with 37, but struggled to get on strike as Stephen O’Keefe (3/13 off four overs), Todd Murphy (0/15 off three overs) and Ben Dwarshuis (1/17 off four overs) put the brakes on, ultimately restricting the Thunder to 132 all out.

Originally published as Steve Smith’s first-ball ‘commentators curse’ leaves BBL in disbelief