Babar Azam becomes second fastest to reach five ODI centuries

[MenInG]

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...-fastest-to-reach-five-odi-centuries-4607553/

Pakistan’s Babar Azam, on Sunday became the second fastest batsman to reach five ODI centuries when he scored 125 runs against West Indies. His knock turned out to be the one that won the match for Pakistan as they went on to beat West Indies by 74 runs at Providence.

Azam smashed three sixes and stroked seven boundaries on his way to the total that he got to in 132 deliveries. The knock has now taken his career total to 1306 in his first 25 ODI innings.

He is followed by South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock who achieved the feat in just 19 knocks

“I just wanted to bat through to the end of the innings and I was able to achieve that to help us put up a good total,” cricket.com.au quots him as saying, “It doesn’t matter where I bat, I just want to make a contribution for the team.”

Babar Azam’s career total of 1306 is also the all time highest by a batsman after the first 25 innings.

He surpassed England’s Jonathan Trott who scored 1280 runs after his initial 25 ODI innings. West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards had scored 1211 runs after first 25 innings of his career. England’s Kevin Pietersen scored 1189 and de Kock has scored 1181 in their initial 25 ODI innings.

Babar, with his 4th century against West Indies, becomes jointly the second in the list of players scoring most ODI centuries against the former World Champions.

The two teams will now lock horns in the decider on Tuesday at the same venue with the West Indies seeking their first ODI series win over Pakistan for 26 years.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam has the most runs (1306) after 25 ODIs by any batsman. Previous highest was 1280 runs by Jonathan Trott <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvPAK?src=hash">#WIvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/iJ2Ei2Hdhr">pic.twitter.com/iJ2Ei2Hdhr</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/851129110101450756">April 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[CricFan2012]

Will end up Pakistan's best player of all time. Called it years ago, everything about him unpakistani, his stance, average, shots, only PCB can mess him up from here.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Awesome! Congrats to Babar

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Has moved to #9 now.

He was 9th before these 2 matches,rankings are only updated after completion of an ODI series.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Another hundred with one already scored can take him to as high as fourth.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Will end up Pakistan's best player of all time. Called it years ago, everything about him unpakistani, his stance, average, shots, only PCB can mess him up from here.

Should have been in the team long time ago too.
He was ready for odis.

 

[Shutdown Corner]

Fantastic achievement!

 

[Bhaijaan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam has the most runs (1306) after 25 ODIs by any batsman. Previous highest was 1280 runs by Jonathan Trott <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvPAK?src=hash">#WIvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/iJ2Ei2Hdhr">pic.twitter.com/iJ2Ei2Hdhr</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/851129110101450756">April 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wow!


He's had a phenomenal start to his career. Wishing him well. Could be one of the best batsmen in world cricket in coming years. One, Pakistan has been waiting for a long long time.

 

[MMHS]

If possible, he needs to play couple of seasons in Counties (Not for the T20 blast, rather for County Championship). I think, PAK's schedule for this summers & 2018 (after English short tour in early summer) is free - he should desperately try to play in County. 35-38 proper FC matches in diverse condition & competitive environment can make him an ATG. Javed, Zaheer & Majid went to Counties at similar age & his fat cousin didn't - should be indicative enough.

This 250 overs FC estyle in Nov/Dec won't take him above 40 average Test batsman.

 

[Hamza_]

Babar needs a 150+ innings in ODI

 

[ExplicitAI]

This guy is an unbelievable talent. Makes you think how the other batsman in the side struggle to score runs whereas Babar does it so easily.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

This guy is an unbelievable talent. Makes you think how the other batsman in the side struggle to score runs whereas Babar does it so easily.

Sometimes I have to remind myself he is a Pak batter and not the opposition. :01:

 

[dildildalwalla]

As much as I like Babar, I think people just need to calm down. A little bit lol We can annoint him the next king of Pak once he performs in the ct...if he performs.

His best work has been against a mediocre windies side, take away all those hundreds and his average would be a lot less.

I only say this because I like the kid and I don't want the same people who are turning him into an icon to then rubbish him 2 months down the line.

 

[Mamoon]

He has 50+ international centuries in him if he maintains the appetite.

 

[shaz619]

He has 50+ international centuries in him if he maintains the appetite.

Already has more hundreds then his overly hyped cousin. Hopefully he continues to develop.

 

[Mamoon]

Already has more hundreds then his overly hyped cousin. Hopefully he continues to develop.

He is already ahead of his cousins in every aspect except for power-hitting, which should come with time. Even if doesn't, he will have a much more fruitful career because his batting IQ is at a different level to those two.

 

[DRsohail]

If possible, he needs to play couple of seasons in Counties (Not for the T20 blast, rather for County Championship). I think, PAK's schedule for this summers & 2018 (after English short tour in early summer) is free - he should desperately try to play in County. 35-38 proper FC matches in diverse condition & competitive environment can make him an ATG. Javed, Zaheer & Majid went to Counties at similar age & his fat cousin didn't - should be indicative enough.

This 250 overs FC estyle in Nov/Dec won't take him above 40 average Test batsman.

he has a chance
they may pick him if he does well n next summer tour ??

 

[Amirforpresident]

I hope he does really well at the upcoming Champions Trophy. IT will be a big challange for him.

 

[Slog]

Said it a long time ago that if this kid doesn't make it we might as well close down the national cricket academy

Still early days. Especially a long way to go in tests but note that he has already gone though one cycle of overseas tests and will learn a lot from those

 

[shaz619]

If possible, he needs to play couple of seasons in Counties (Not for the T20 blast, rather for County Championship). I think, PAK's schedule for this summers & 2018 (after English short tour in early summer) is free - he should desperately try to play in County. 35-38 proper FC matches in diverse condition & competitive environment can make him an ATG. Javed, Zaheer & Majid went to Counties at similar age & his fat cousin didn't - should be indicative enough.

This 250 overs FC estyle in Nov/Dec won't take him above 40 average Test batsman.

This would an incredible opportunity for Babar Azam development, [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] could you possibly get in touch with someone close to Babar possibly his manager if he has one so they can pursue such an opportunity in the county championship please? or maybe someone at Islamabad United or folk who have decent relationships with some of the counties here in England.

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] at this stage most signings may have been completed though but in division two Kent and Northamptonshire have not signed any overseas players

 

[MMHS]

This would an incredible opportunity for Babar Azam development, [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] could you possibly get in touch with someone close to Babar possibly his manager if he has one so they can pursue such an opportunity in the county championship please? or maybe someone at Islamabad United or folk who have decent relationships with some of the counties here in England.

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] at this stage most signings may have been completed though but in division two Kent and Northamptonshire have not signed any overseas players

This year SAF & WI are touring UK, normally, they supply most overseas players these days, even outside Kolpak. Even if he can play half a season for any team, it'll be helpful.

 

[static]

If possible, he needs to play couple of seasons in Counties (Not for the T20 blast, rather for County Championship). I think, PAK's schedule for this summers & 2018 (after English short tour in early summer) is free - he should desperately try to play in County. 35-38 proper FC matches in diverse condition & competitive environment can make him an ATG. Javed, Zaheer & Majid went to Counties at similar age & his fat cousin didn't - should be indicative enough.

This 250 overs FC estyle in Nov/Dec won't take him above 40 average Test batsman.

[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] should forward this to babar, he should definitely try to get a county gig.

 

[Hasan123]

If possible, he needs to play couple of seasons in Counties (Not for the T20 blast, rather for County Championship). I think, PAK's schedule for this summers & 2018 (after English short tour in early summer) is free - he should desperately try to play in County. 35-38 proper FC matches in diverse condition & competitive environment can make him an ATG. Javed, Zaheer & Majid went to Counties at similar age & his fat cousin didn't - should be indicative enough.

This 250 overs FC estyle in Nov/Dec won't take him above 40 average Test batsman.

If he continues impressing, he'll get a contract

 

[abughio]

His balance is so good that sometimes it feels like he has static feet or he premeditated the shot

 

[Barragan]

He has the potential to be Pak's greatest ODI batsman (should do).

He should open.

He can easily utilise the PP and start off with a high SR, then even if he slows down in the middle period - it won't make a massive difference and he can regain ground again in the final overs.

 

[Justcrazy]

He needs to fire against better oppositions to be considered a top level batter,

 

[Shutdown Corner]

Hopefully he kicks on as a Test batter. If so Pakistan will be in decent shape with Azhar, Shafiq, and Babar in the Test team.

 

[khurram39]

Yes he is a great batsman with no serious flaws in techniques. good temperament n shot selection. How he improves himself and put this confidence in his batting definitely time will tell. At this time he is great.

 

[Hawkeye]

Bad day at the office for many today.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Tougher tasks ahead for Babar in ODIs like the CT and the world cup in england in next few yearswhich will test him as a batsmen, if he can score big and important 100s in these type of conditions and games then he really will become a star player.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

A fantastic player.Needs to step up in Test matches now and should work to improve his SR in LOIs

 

[Gr8Gaur]

His biggest nemesis will be his team mates. A brilliant prospect since super talented duo of Shezzy-Akmal (chotu).