Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith make 22-year-old Australian star feel unsafe in BBL locker room
Sydney Sixers are heading into the most dramatic phase of the ongoing Big Bash League 2025-26 (BBL 2025-26), and the mood within the camp has completely changed with the return of Australia’s greatest match-winners Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc.
After winning the 2025-26 Ashes against England at home, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc are set to return to BBL 2025-26 action, and their arrival is already making waves among the current squad. The two Ashes winners have confirmed that they will feature for the Sydney Sixers in some of the remaining matches of the ongoing 2025-26 Big Bash League.
Ashes heroes Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc set to kick off Sydney Sixers’ Big Bash League campaign
Starc arrives after delivering one of the most dominant performances in the Ashes in recent years, finishing the five-match Test series as the leading wicket-taker with 31 wickets and winning the player of the series award. Smith was one of the top run-scorers with 286 runs in four Tests.
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Apart from the senior duo, young spinner Todd Murphy is also expected to join the Sydney Sixers squad in the ongoing 2025-26 BBL. Moreover, the Sixers already have big stars like Babar Azam, Josh Philippe, Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott, and now Josh Hazlewood is also expected to join the team as an additional player in the BBL 2025-26.
While fans were excited for the superstars’ return, Joel Davies immediately felt the heat, even after delivering a match-winning performance against the Melbourne Stars on January 8, where he was voted Player of the Match.
I think I might be out of the team: Joel Davies
After the match, Davies openly admitted that his place could be in jeopardy once Smith and Starc return to the Sixers locker room. He said the Sixers would transform into a star-studded team upon their return, forcing the team’s management to make tough decisions.
Also Read: RCB pacer Mitchell Starc nominated for ICC Player of the Month award for December 2025
Even with the risk of missing out, Davies said bringing back players of this quality can only help the Sixers chase another BBL final. Joel Davies told the broadcaster after the BBL clash: “Well, I think I might be out of the team, to be honest.
I don’t know, but yes, it’s going to be an all-star line-up, so yes, there will be some tough decisions to make. But yeah, I think getting these boys back is going to be unreal, and I’m crossing my fingers that we can get Starckey back at some point; that would be good too.
.@ThéoDrop: “The return of Smith, Starc and Murphy, what does that do for you in terms of confidence as a young player?”
Joel Davies: “I think I might be left out of the team to be honest.” 😂#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/WnxCbK4sVD
– 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 8, 2026
Mitchell Starc to move to magenta after 10 years, Steve Smith set for another BBL season
Mitchell Starc will once again don the magenta colors after a long hiatus, as he is set for his first appearance in the Big Bash League since the fourth season. He only played 10 games in the league, but he made a big impact with his pace and control for the Sixers.
On the other hand, Steve Smith is also expected to continue his BBL journey with the Sydney Sixers. The senior slugger returns for the fourth straight season. Over the years, Smith has been one of the most reliable hitters in the league, racking up nearly 1,200 points for the Sixers thus far.
