SMITH BLOCK ‘SAD FOR CRICKET’

SYDNEY Sixers captain Moises Henriques is “absolutely baffled” by the Big Bash League’s decision to block Steve Smith from suiting up in the BBL finals and has urged the league to reconsider the “really disappointing” call before time runs out.

Having played his entire Big Bash career with the side, Smith was keen to link back up with his beloved Sixers after his Test duties finished.

Despite the Sixers having a spare spot on their list, a rule introduced on January 10 has barred the club’s favourite son from returning to the fold – replacements must now only be picked from a pool of local players inside the BBL’S Melbourne hub.

Henriques unleashed at the call ahead of the Sixers’ clash with the Perth Scorchers in the Qualifier.

“To stay (I’m) a little bit disgruntled would be an understatement. It’s really disappointing,” the skipper said.

Henriques said in a summer when the Big Bash has been criticised for its lack of star power, it was “absolutely baffling” to reject a player of Smith’s calibre.

“When you’ve got someone who’s played for your club for 11 years, he’s captained the country, he’s one of the best cricketers in the world and this tournament has probably lacked those types of stars throughout … you’ve got someone who wants to play, basically for free, just to play and you’re robbing him of the opportunity.

“It’s sad for cricket. That’s all.” Henriques pointed out that Smith had been in the Ashes biosecure bubble so did not pose risk to the Sixers’ health.

“It’s not a matter of protocol. It’s a matter of a rule that got changed two weeks ago they probably didn’t quite cross the t’s and dot the i’s on,” Henriques said.

But the Sixers captain said there was still time for the BBL technical committee to reconsider its stance on Smith.

“I’m still hopeful they’ll look at that again and realise they made the wrong call,” he said.

“We’ve still got at least 24 hours before the game starts.”

Henriques said Big Bash League organisers had shown they were capable of adapting on the go all summer.