Babar Azam : The Test batsman

[fazleefridi]

He is a fine player in ODI'S
Decent player in T20I'S

But I am really concerned about his test batting.

Yes, he has to play tests. But, I don't think he's ready to be a no.3 in tests.

Asad, with good experience, is hiding himself at 6 and poor Babar has to play at 3.

He's a stroke making player, and should start at 6, in tests. Can be moved up later.

 

[captain crook]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

 

[fazleefridi]

This should be the line up, post this series.

Sami/Shehzad
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Tallat/Hafeez (As a fifth bowler is required)

 

[Mamoon]

Shafiq is not good enough to bat at 3. Babar has a much higher ceiling and he can average 50+ in this format. He has all the ingredients to be a top quality #3 in Test cricket, and if he develops the temperament which he should with experience, it will be his best format.

 

[captain crook]

Why do we need to hide Babar when he can score runs upfront with solid technique?

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

He's a perfect no.3 in tests.
You can clearly see he is not comfortable out there, in tests.

That's not his fault. He should start from no.5

 

[captain crook]

He's a perfect no.3 in tests.
You can clearly see he is not comfortable out there, in tests.

That's not his fault. He should start from no.5

You meant ODIs? Anyway, Rome was not builtin a day. Give him some time, will come good.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Don't agree. This is excellent from Mickey, giving Babar an extended run at 3 in Tests. He has a higher ceiling than any Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. He is tailor made for the number 3 position. That's his game

 

[fazleefridi]

Shafiq is not good enough to bat at 3. Babar has a much higher ceiling and he can average 50+ in this format. He has all the ingredients to be a top quality #3 in Test cricket, and if he develops the temperament which he should with experience, it will be his best format.

No doubt, he's the best.

But the question is, is he ready?

Either, bring Azhar back to no.3, or try Haris.
Babar, should start from no.5

Anyone who has some cricketing knowledge, can clearly see, he's struggling at 3

 

[fazleefridi]

Shafiq is not good enough to bat at 3. Babar has a much higher ceiling and he can average 50+ in this format. He has all the ingredients to be a top quality #3 in Test cricket, and if he develops the temperament which he should with experience, it will be his best format.

You meant ODIs? Anyway, Rome was not builtin a day. Give him some time, will come good.

Yes, sorry for that.

I would love, if he improves, but what I am afraid is, if he loses his confidence

 

[fazleefridi]

Already has been dropped once, and once plumb lbw. And above that, still striking at 25

 

[Mamoon]

No doubt, he's the best.

But the question is, is he ready?

Either, bring Azhar back to no.3, or try Haris.
Babar, should start from no.5

Anyone who has some cricketing knowledge, can clearly see, he's struggling at 3

He will not be ready if he doesn't play there.

 

[fazleefridi]

He will not be ready if he doesn't play there.

He can move up, after earning some confidence at 5

Right now, if he keeps getting out on low scores at 3. It might effect his overall game

 

[jusarrived]

I think the OP is right , its unfair to put him at no3 , ideally they should have given him 10 test matches 4-5 and moved him up .

if this move it works though , its perfect for Pak .

 

[Rayyman]

Has the same issue that Misbah does. Breaks wrists when ball is straight so it's easy for him to miss the ball. Won't be a problem in Asia, but it has outside of the continent as we have seen in Australia and now in the Caribbean.

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar, perfect replacement for sami.

22 str.rate.

This is going to backfire.

Management is surely dumb, to expose him at 3, so early in his career.

Send him at 5, next match, if not it would cost him his test career

 

[Pete Rose]

i am not sure what a top 3 of shehzad, azhar, and babar is going to really do in test cricket...
but then, this should be the least of my concerns. this could be the top 3 in our CT team as well

 

[captain crook]

Babar, perfect replacement for sami.

22 str.rate.

This is going to backfire.

Management is surely dumb, to expose him at 3, so early in his career.

Send him at 5, next match, if not it would cost him his test career

Arre bhai.. if doesn't learn and gain experience now, who should we pit him against? South Africa? England? He needs to settle down here in this role and team management is doing well in that regard.

 

[fazleefridi]

i am not sure what a top 3 of shehzad, azhar, and babar is going to really do in test cricket...
but then, this should be the least of my concerns. this could be the top 3 in our CT team as well

Atleas Azhar and Shezi were striking good.

Babar is making us not miss Sami Aslam

 

[fazleefridi]

Arre bhai.. if doesn't learn and gain experience now, who should we pit him against? South Africa? England? He needs to settle down here in this role and team management is doing well in that regard.

Internationals are not the place to learn

I am not asking him to get out of the test team.

Play him at 5 for 4 series, at 4 for 4 series.

When he gains confidence, you can move him up after a year or two.

You can clearly see he's quite low on confidence

 

[Finisher]

Babar at 6 for this series and Shafiq at 3.

It's time Shafiq comes out of the shadow's of Misbah and YK.

 

[msb314]

i am not sure what a top 3 of shehzad, azhar, and babar is going to really do in test cricket...
but then, this should be the least of my concerns. this could be the top 3 in our CT team as well

This is arguably our best top 3 in Test cricket available right now.

Not sure what the concern is...

 

[Pete Rose]

This is arguably our best top 3 in Test cricket available right now.

Not sure what the concern is...

Ahmed Shehzad is not a suitable anything for any format of the game. Babar can be excused as he is still new to cricket, but yet again this is preparing a team for dour cricket than unravelled spectacularly in Australia.

 

[Ellipsism]

This is arguably our best top 3 in Test cricket available right now.

Not sure what the concern is...

Nope.

There are better openers than Shehzad in Pakistan.

 

[msb314]

Ahmed Shehzad is not a suitable anything for any format of the game. Babar can be excused as he is still new to cricket, but yet again this is preparing a team for dour cricket than unravelled spectacularly in Australia.

I disagree here - Shehzad is a better Test opener than Masood, Sami Aslam and certainly Hafeez (abroad). If you think Shehzad is slow - Sami and Masood will literally bat at a SR of 10

Azhar has done decently as an opener and him opening opens up another middle order spot for Haris/Fawad Alam and maybe Umar Amin.

Babar is young and will learn to adapt his game in Test cricket. It is understandable why he is also batting slow considered he struggled in Australia and is trying to establish himself in the Test team.

 

[msb314]

Nope.

There are better openers than Shehzad in Pakistan.

Like who?

 

[Ellipsism]

Like who?

Imran Butt, Imam Ul Haq and Sami Aslam.

Shehzad can only dream of averaging 30+ after a year of away tours.

Heck Shehzad averages 25 outside the UAE and he hasn't stepped foot out of Asia.

 

[Pete Rose]

I disagree here - Shehzad is a better Test opener than Masood, Sami Aslam and certainly Hafeez (abroad). If you think Shehzad is slow - Sami and Masood will literally bat at a SR of 10

Azhar has done decently as an opener and him opening opens up another middle order spot for Haris/Fawad Alam and maybe Umar Amin.

Babar is young and will learn to adapt his game in Test cricket. It is understandable why he is also batting slow considered he struggled in Australia and is trying to establish himself in the Test team.

Ahmed Shehzad can be thankful for missing test cricket last year. That's pretty much all I will say

 

[Hasan123]

He should be given a run as a test number 3. The only way he will learn about test cricket is playing test cricket.

Pakistan fans have no clue about developing batsmen. If it was upto the spreadsheet clan they would have him playing 1st class cricket. His technique would regress in our domestic system, playing test cricket and working under a professional coach like Arthur will benefit Babar.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I can see why you're concerned, you Indian.

 

[Bilal7]

He's going to be a fantastic test batsman, and this will actually be his strongest format in a few years time. We have an ATG in the making.

 

[Hamza78]

Some people plz give him some time he's ur best number 3

 

[fazleefridi]

I can see why you're concerned, you Indian.

Yes Indian, and biggest fan of Babar.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Yes Indian, and biggest fan of Babar.

[MENTION=131539]CricFan2012[/MENTION] Tell this guy why Babar's going to become the greatest batsman of all time and there's nothing to fear.

 

[Khan12]

He's going to be a fantastic test batsman, and this will actually be his strongest format in a few years time. We have an ATG in the making.

Inshallah.

 

[Mamoon]

He is a run machine. The record for the most runs and hundreds across all formats for a Pakistani batsman is there for the taking.

 

[htariq25]

Babar should bat @4 since he has the ability to become our next best test bat and most best players bat @4. Haris would bat @3 and fawad/shafiq @5.
Batting line up:
Azhar
Sami/shehzad
Haris
Babar
Fawad/shafiq
Sarfraz
Shadab/imad

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Babar should bat @4 since he has the ability to become our next best test bat and most best players bat @4. Haris would bat @3 and fawad/shafiq @5.
Batting line up:
Azhar
Sami/shehzad
Haris
Babar
Fawad/shafiq
Sarfraz
Shadab/imad

Babar is at his best when you get him in the game early and let him control it. #3 is his position. There's no need to mess around.

 

[in_cutter]

Man..Pak fans just love whinging. NEVER happy.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Atleast with Babar once he is set in Test Cricket we will expect him to bat at a SR of 60. Somebody who would be fluent.

Though Yousuf mostly failed against top oppositions but he was a treat to watch. Aesthetic.


Hope Saud makes Test team in 2018 or 2019.

 

[Speedster777]

Babar is the most fit player in the team. I'm really impressed with his determination and commitment to the game.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

First hundred will have to wait unfortunately.

 

[Ellipsism]

Decent knock today, albiet started off way too slow.

 

[fazleefridi]

Decent knock today, albiet started off way too slow.

Not just started, even ended with a below par str.rate(even by Pak standards) of 36

 

[fazleefridi]

Hope, he improves with time.

 

[moghul]

Babar is the best player to invest for # 3 spot.

 

[QalandarFan]

Shafiq is not good enough to bat at 3. Babar has a much higher ceiling and he can average 50+ in this format. He has all the ingredients to be a top quality #3 in Test cricket, and if he develops the temperament which he should with experience, it will be his best format.

Great post, pretty much sums it up.

 

[Square Drive]

He's fine.

Leave him at #3.

 

[CricFan2012]

Babar Azam is definitely made for test cricket. He's the first batsman to come out of Pakistan with almost perfect technique. Played a bit slowly to my liking, he's very well capable to score at a higher strike rate of 50-60.

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar Azam, again showing, that he's not ready for no.3 in tests, yet.

 

[aloo paratha]

Will this thread be bumped every time he makes a low score?

 

[AlizeeFan]

How many times a batsman averaing 30s in FC cricket has been a successful test batsman?

 

[Abdul]

Will this thread be bumped every time he makes a low score?

That's the basic protocol here whenever any player fails.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

How many times a batsman averaing 30s in FC cricket has been a successful test batsman?

Azhar Ali - averaged 35 when picked for Pakistan

arguable Shafiq who averged 37 when he played his first test

Taufeeq Umar was one of our better openers of the last decade, he never averaged more than 40 in first class

 

[AlizeeFan]

Azhar Ali - averaged 35 when picked for Pakistan

arguable Shafiq who averged 37 when he played his first test

Azhar Ali has better than his FC performance. Shafiq is at same level.

It's rare in test cricket for a batsman to average much higher than his FC average especially for batsmane averaging below 40. At best he can manage an average of 35-40 and that is not the type of batsman you want at no 3 in your team.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Azhar Ali has better than his FC performance. Shafiq is at same level.

It's rare in test cricket for a batsman to average much higher than his FC average especially for batsmane averaging below 40. At best he can manage an average of 35-40 and that is not the type of batsman you want at no 3 in your team.

people forget that he is 22, plus if take you out his 7 tests, babar's domestic FC average is pretty much 40.

 

[AlizeeFan]

YK - FC avg 50+
MoYo - FC avg 48
Inzi - FC avg 50
Miandad - 53
Saeed Anwar - 45
Zaheer Abbas - 51
Hanif Mohammad - 52
Saleem Malik - 46
Misbah - 49

Azhar Ali is only batsman with poor FC records but way superior test record.

 

[AlizeeFan]

people forget that he is 22, plus if take you out his 7 tests, babar's domestic FC average is pretty much 40.

Yes he has age on his side and time to improve his record. But if he doesn't, then it unlikely that he will do well at international level either.

Most of the top batsmen of Pakistan had good averages.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Yes he has age on his side and time to improve his record. But if he doesn't, then it unlikely that he will do well at international level either.

Most of the top batsmen of Pakistan had good averages.

except the ones that i just mentioned.

Yes domestic stats are important, but should not outweigh what we see internationally.

Babar has all the skills to suceed, and should be given a run, he did just scored 70 odd last game. I feel all he needs is that first ton, much like Azhar Ali who had a long wait to get a 100

 

[New Yorker]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

Lack of runs.

 

[New Yorker]

Don't agree. This is excellent from Mickey, giving Babar an extended run at 3 in Tests. He has a higher ceiling than any Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. He is tailor made for the number 3 position. That's his game

All these things are true but come to naught if he doesn't have the temperament.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

I think Babar would be good at no. 4/5 in test

 

[Hawkeye]

Good bat.

Spreadsheeters need to stay away.

 

[fazleefridi]

Good bat.

Spreadsheeters need to stay away.

He is a good batsman. But, in tests, he should start from no.5, then slowly move up.

No one is blaming Babar, rather management, who is throwing him directly in the deep sea, at 3

 

[ask_analyse_act]

He is a good batsman. But, in tests, he should start from no.5, then slowly move up.

No one is blaming Babar, rather management, who is throwing him directly in the deep sea, at 3

let him continue at no.3 for some more period... so far in his test career just 1 match in UAE ... rest of them are in NZL, AUS and WI now..

 

[Hamza_]

Need to have patience with Babar.

This will be his best format.

 

[fazleefridi]

Pakistan management spoiling Babar's test career, by playing him at 3. Dumb morons they are

 

[waleed88]

Good bat.

Spreadsheeters need to stay away.

1 50 in 12 innings.. Maestro in the making

 

[fazleefridi]

Good bat.

Spreadsheeters need to stay away.

Spreadsheeters are better than being Blind.

One who has some cricketing knowledge, can clearly see, he's Not ready at 3, for tests

 

[Global Insight]

Our future number 3 for sure.

Question is, just because we all know is our number 3 in Tests, do we keep playing him when he isn't scoring?

Drop him and FC really won't benefit him or keep playing him and if he continues to fail then what will be the long term consequences?

Really a tough call. The only way he will learn is if he plays, but Tests aren't practice grounds where we can afford low scores from a top order bat.

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

Let the B man be, he's fine.

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

Shafiq is not good enough to bat at 3. Babar has a much higher ceiling and he can average 50+ in this format. He has all the ingredients to be a top quality #3 in Test cricket, and if he develops the temperament which he should with experience, it will be his best format.

Why do we need to hide Babar when he can score runs upfront with solid technique?

You meant ODIs? Anyway, Rome was not builtin a day. Give him some time, will come good.

Don't agree. This is excellent from Mickey, giving Babar an extended run at 3 in Tests. He has a higher ceiling than any Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. He is tailor made for the number 3 position. That's his game

He will not be ready if he doesn't play there.

Arre bhai.. if doesn't learn and gain experience now, who should we pit him against? South Africa? England? He needs to settle down here in this role and team management is doing well in that regard.

This is arguably our best top 3 in Test cricket available right now.

Not sure what the concern is...

He should be given a run as a test number 3. The only way he will learn about test cricket is playing test cricket.

Pakistan fans have no clue about developing batsmen. If it was upto the spreadsheet clan they would have him playing 1st class cricket. His technique would regress in our domestic system, playing test cricket and working under a professional coach like Arthur will benefit Babar.

I can see why you're concerned, you Indian.

He's going to be a fantastic test batsman, and this will actually be his strongest format in a few years time. We have an ATG in the making.

Some people plz give him some time he's ur best number 3

He is a run machine. The record for the most runs and hundreds across all formats for a Pakistani batsman is there for the taking.

Babar is the best player to invest for # 3 spot.

He's fine.

Leave him at #3.

Babar Azam is definitely made for test cricket. He's the first batsman to come out of Pakistan with almost perfect technique. Played a bit slowly to my liking, he's very well capable to score at a higher strike rate of 50-60.

Will this thread be bumped every time he makes a low score?

That's the basic protocol here whenever any player fails.

Good bat.

Spreadsheeters need to stay away.

Need to have patience with Babar.

This will be his best format.

Yes, let him lose his confidence. If management, had some knowledge, they would have played him at 5 or 6

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

Yes, let him lose his confidence. If management, had some knowledge, they would have played him at 5 or 6

He won't lose confidence, if wilts under the pressure of a string of low scores, than that is a bigger problem than what number he'll bat. Look at Shafiq, protecting him at no.6 did nothing and is still the mental midget he was before. Like I said, let Babar be, he'll be fine.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Yes, let him lose his confidence. If management, had some knowledge, they would have played him at 5 or 6

What you cryin about? He scored 72 and not out last game.

What loss of confidence? He has full backing from management.

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

He won't lose confidence, if wilts under the pressure of a string of low scores, than that is a bigger problem than what number he'll bat. Look at Shafiq, protecting him at no.6 did nothing and is still the mental midget he was before. Like I said, let Babar be, he'll be fine.

You can't experiment in internationals.

Play him at 6, then 5 and then 3.

Otherwise, keep accepting, his low scores

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

What you cryin about? He scored 72 and not out last game.

What loss of confidence? He has full backing from management.

Yes one selfish 72. Followed by low scores pre and post 72

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

You can't experiment in internationals.

Play him at 6, then 5 and then 3.

Otherwise, keep accepting, his low scores

Not an experiment, he's been trained to be our no.3 since a long time, and as chief destroyer said, has the full backing of the management along with a 72. He won't be moved, so relax and watch him grow.

 

[fazleefridi]

Babar is our perfect #3. Not sure what's the issue here.

Not an experiment, he's been trained to be our no.3 since a long time, and as chief destroyer said, has the full backing of the management along with a 72. He won't be moved, so relax and watch him grow.

Yes long time trained. Yet, poor

 

[Hitman]

A pair in this Test

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

Yes long time trained. Yet, poor

Rome wasn't built in a day.