Big Bash League 2019, Standout team, biggest moment, best team – Sydney Sixers, Marcus Stoinis and Joshua Phillipe

Sydney Sixers peaked at the right to win BBL 9, outfoxing Melbourne Stars in the final, despite them finishing atop in the league. We look at the talking points from a fine tournament.

Standout team – Sydney Sixers

Throughout the league stage of the tournament, it was Melbourne Stars who made the headlines, going on an unbelievable run of victories, possessing the top run-scorer of the tournament in their ranks. At the time, it seemed inevitable they wouldn’t win their maiden BBL title. However, Sydney Sixers showed what counts in tournaments like this – peaking at the right time. They won five of their last six matches, including the final against the Stars, to win the title. Meanwhile, the Stars lost four of their last five matches, and that, eventually, was the difference.

Standout moment – Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis was coming into the league stage clash against Sydney Sixers in controversial circumstances, having aimed a homophobic slur against Kane Richardson in the previous match. He put that negative behind him, however, to break plenty of records in the clash against Melbourne Stars. He hammered an unbeaten 147 off just 79 balls against the Sixers to propel the Stars to victory in what became the highest individual score in an innings in BBL history. It doesn’t change the fact that the slur should never have happened, but it was a fine performance and ensured no questions will ever be asked of his skills as a cricketer.

A turn for the worse – Cricket in times of AQI

A BBL match was affected by the bushfires that have raged Australia this year. Unfortunately, the authorities hesitated to pull the plug on matches in the firing line: Peter Siddle had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a match in Canberra had to be abandoned due to smoke. It should never have gone ahead. It’s the times we live in, of course, but at least in future, the authorities should put safety first and foremost, and not have players put in any risk.

Standout quote –  I just knew if I was out there towards the back end, it’s funny it somehow gets easier, you might nick a four, and you get away and it’s a different game so I just try to take it as deep as I can.”

• Joshua Phillipe after his match-winning innings against the Stars in the final.