Can Babar Azam join the group of Fab 4 and make it a Fab 5?

[Mobashir]

bhai tu rehne de. your team got reamed in the same place where india was victorious a year back.

Lack of understanding on your side.
We are talking about ODI's and not about teams but about a particular player.

We normally quote a poste when we have to say something about it. When you want to make a general comment you don't need to quote anyone.

 

[Mobashir]

Not sure why you are bringing Root's numbers here. Root is well behind Smith and Kohli test format taken into consideration.

Williamson, Root and Smith are several leagues below Kohli as a limited overs batsmen.

Kohli is not several leagues below Smith as test batsmen. He is actually well ahead of Root and Williamson in test cricket and only behind Smith as test batter.

It was to show how your logic of ODI's/T20's doesn't work at all.

Another example :
Smith way ahead of Rohit in Tests
Rohit way ahead of Smith in ODI's and T20's.

Does that make same level cricketers? OR comparable in anyway?

 

[jiduguravindra]

It was to show how your logic of ODI's/T20's doesn't work at all.

Another example :
Smith way ahead of Rohit in Tests
Rohit way ahead of Smith in ODI's and T20's.

Does that make same level cricketers? OR comparable in anyway?

Kohli is better batsmen overall becoz avg difference in tests between kohli and smith is approximately 8 runs per innings whereas when u compare them in limited over smith is miles and miles away from kohli.

Smith is better than root, rohit or any other players, logic behind this is other player are no where near the Smith in test cricket but when it comes to limited overs others may be better but Smith is also a good player. As Smith is high quality player and a good limited overs player he is better than others as we weight more for test performances.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Babar needed a very slow 70 in 2nd innings to stretch the game further, now it's almost game over for Pak.

 

[BlueBeamer]

Needed a big 150+ from Babar here. He'd be cursing himself for not scoring more on this absolute road of a pitch.

 

[Hitman]

It was to show how your logic of ODI's/T20's doesn't work at all.

Another example :
Smith way ahead of Rohit in Tests
Rohit way ahead of Smith in ODI's and T20's.

Does that make same level cricketers? OR comparable in anyway?

That's be cause Rohit is not a great Test batsman.

 

[Ab Fan]

It was to show how your logic of ODI's/T20's doesn't work at all.

Another example :
Smith way ahead of Rohit in Tests
Rohit way ahead of Smith in ODI's and T20's.

Does that make same level cricketers? OR comparable in anyway?

I thought I posted a reply on this.

Anyways, basically my point is for the same comparison, you just replace Rohit or Root by Kohli and you will get your answers. The question is whether you are willing to accept that or not.

 

[Ab Fan]

Kohli is better batsmen overall becoz avg difference in tests between kohli and smith is approximately 8 runs per innings whereas when u compare them in limited over smith is miles and miles away from kohli.

Smith is better than root, rohit or any other players, logic behind this is other player are no where near the Smith in test cricket but when it comes to limited overs others may be better but Smith is also a good player. As Smith is high quality player and a good limited overs player he is better than others as we weight more for test performances.

It's not about average but your point still stands correct.

 

[Mobashir]

I thought I posted a reply on this.

Anyways, basically my point is for the same comparison, you just replace Rohit or Root by Kohli and you will get your answers. The question is whether you are willing to accept that or not.

I have nothing to accept. For me Smith is the superior batsmen of them all. The only one who has done things no one did before him, and being so clutch.

In ODI'S alone, if you look at the best, they were Viv Richards because he was ahead of his time regarding the SR, same with AB, a top run scorer but with a SR that no one could match. Kohli's strike rate is nothing special, he has failed to up his game in big moments. ABDV, Ponting, etc were all the best batsmen of the world cups they played, Kohli is just one of many batmen doing well in world cup.

 

[jiduguravindra]

It's not about average but your point still stands correct.

My view also not only about avg, for better clarity I just put numbers.

 

[Relic]

Rashid Latif said today that Babar Azam is performing extremely well in all three formats but he's not a show stopper by any means. He said Babar lacks the ability to score big hundreds, not because he loses concentration but because he doesn't have the stamina. He gets tired too quickly. He said that Babar had a perfect opportunity to score a big ton today in the first innings as Yasir was batting pretty well with him and we were only 6 down when Babar was on 97.

He also said that he wouldn't criticise Babar too much for his second innings dismissal as it was always going to be hard to bat again after his 97 and that too under lights.

 

[Abdullah719]

Rashid Latif said today that Babar Azam is performing extremely well in all three formats but he's not a show stopper by any means. He said Babar lacks the ability to score big hundreds, not because he loses concentration but because he doesn't have the stamina. He gets tired too quickly. He said that Babar had a perfect opportunity to score a big ton today in the first innings as Yasir was batting pretty well with him and we were only 6 down when Babar was on 97.

He also said that he wouldn't criticise Babar too much for his second innings dismissal as it was always going to be hard to bat again after his 97 and that too under lights.

I haven't seen any visible signs of him tiring during his innings as we used to see with the likes of Sarfaraz.

Either way, it can be worked on.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He has an opportunity to completely dominate a test series against Srilanka. He is probably in the form of his life.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Babar would have made a lot of name for himself had he saved at least 1 test here. Winning is anyway out of question as Pak are not able to take even 10 wickets.

 

[Slog]

He has an opportunity to completely dominate a test series against Srilanka. He is probably in the form of his life.

He has to develop ability to score daddy hundreds.

I think currently his upper bar is 120s and to truly set himself as a world beater he needs those 150+ scores

Pak domestic pitches (prior to current season) were absolute green tops with low bounce so none of our players are used to scoring big runs since 250 was a big score in FC cricket.

I can bet that even if you put this lineup in front of school cricket bowlers they will lose wickets after hundreds (if they get there) due to lack of concentration.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Babar has a long way to go.

How many match winning innings has he played?

1.

 

[Bullet Drive]

I haven't seen any visible signs of him tiring during his innings as we used to see with the likes of Sarfaraz.

Either way, it can be worked on.

Batting fitness is different to general fitness.

 

[Relic]

Babar has a long way to go.

How many match winning innings has he played?

1.

Tests?

1. 60 odd against England in 2018. Was the joint second highest score of that match. He retired injured.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Tests?

1. 60 odd against England in 2018. Was the joint second highest score of that match. He retired injured.

Limited overs.

Tests, he is very underrated.

But limited overs, he is rated highly, but only one proper stand out innings which was that ton vs NZ.

 

[Relic]

I haven't seen any visible signs of him tiring during his innings as we used to see with the likes of Sarfaraz.

Either way, it can be worked on.

Maybe he doesn't show it. Who knows?
But it's becoming a big problem.
If he can't convert his starts into big hundreds he'll never be considered a big player

 

[Relic]

Limited overs.

Tests, he is very underrated.

But limited overs, he is rated highly, but only one proper stand out innings which was that ton vs NZ.

Fair enough.
But we haven't had many away ODI tours recently so it's hard to know
We had the SA one but that was almost a year ago

 

[Slog]

Azam is not even close to being a part of the Fab Four. The Fab Four was all about the next generation test players and so far all Azam is in tests is a very talented prospect.

Here is the link to the Martin Crowe article that spawned the label.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21431212/martin-crowe-test-cricket-young-fab-four

Note in here it is talking about tests and even mentions tests in the title.

Yes Babar looks like he will become one of the best test batsmen in the world but he isn't even close yet. Forget the Fab Four, he hasn't done enough to bring himself in the the discussion for top 10 test batsman so far.

Interesting read

Quite an eye for talent considering all had middling averages back then barring Root

 

[KingT]

Interesting read

Quite an eye for talent considering all had middling averages back then barring Root

But but but... Babar azam is a bad test player.

 

[Slog]

But but but... Babar azam is a bad test player.

no guarantee that since these guys reached such heights, Babar will also reach such heights.

I think Babar's biggest problem is that he has not shown an ability to play big innings. You need daddy hundreds to reach such company which the Fab 4 had done by now.

Babar has yet to reach a score of 130+ in international cricket despite 13 hundreds and most of his dismissals after century are after a few overs of a milestone.

 

[Hyperion66]

This is a thread for the ages where a 37 averaged batsman hailed as the best thing since sliced bread lol.

 

[NoBallZombie]

This is a thread for the ages where a 37 averaged batsman hailed as the best thing since sliced bread lol.

You are just jealous Rahul is not being discussed as part of fab 4.

 

[Hyperion66]

You are just jealous Rahul is not being discussed as part of fab 4.

Lol seriously man? This is the best you could come up with? I am an Indian, why would I be jealous of a batsman who averages less than our wicket keeper?

Rahul is a better t20 bat, which is a fact, not sure why me stating this is causing such pain and heartbreaks.

BTW Rahul isn't among my top 15 fav players lol.

 

[Mean&Green]

This is a thread for the ages where a 37 averaged batsman hailed as the best thing since sliced bread lol.

The average will be in 40s+ after this series against Sri Lanka than come again

 

[Sidilicious]

no guarantee that since these guys reached such heights, Babar will also reach such heights.

I think Babar's biggest problem is that he has not shown an ability to play big innings. You need daddy hundreds to reach such company which the Fab 4 had done by now.

Babar has yet to reach a score of 130+ in international cricket despite 13 hundreds and most of his dismissals after century are after a few overs of a milestone.

I don’t think that not scoring big is that big a deal, yet. Kohli didn’t have a 150+ score till his 6th or 7th test hundred. It took Tendulkar nearly 10 years to register his first double.

The only difference so far between Babar now, and the fab 4 when the article was written is that the fab 4 had done something that made the world sit back and take note. Kohli and his chasing ability. Those innings against SL in Aus and against Pak in Asia Cup. Smith had that ashes in 13-14 and India in 2014.

Add to that their talent, and thus people came to the conclusion that they would go on to become a ‘fab’.

With Babar, he has shown oodles of talent. But there isn’t one big thing that announces he is arrival. He is surely capable of that. But he needs a series or a couple of innings where everyone realises that Babar is not just going to be a Pakistan great, but an ATG. He has played plenty of great innings to become a Pakistani great. But to enter the potential ATG discussion he needs a trigger.

I don’t think the aus series was it. Because he was not the main point of discussion after the match. Even if Pakistan loses, people should be talking about Babar’s innings. A bit like Sachin at Perth in 92. In the Aus series, people were talking more about Labu than Babar.

He has the talent. Let’s see if he can announce his arrival as a potential ATG.

 

[Mesozoic]

Babar can/should never join the current Fab 4 as he's from a different age group than them. Kohli is 31, Smith is 30 , Williamson and Root are 29. These guys made their debuts atleast 5-6 years before Babar came into int'l Cricket. So , the discussion should end then and there. His performances and potential are a secondary.

It's better to make a future potential Fab 4 and add Babar to that list. Say Babar/De Kock/Shai Hope/Latham ?
This would be a much more apt comparison.

 

[Hyperion66]

The average will be in 40s+ after this series against Sri Lanka than come again

Yeah okay, we'll see about that. But does scoring runs against SL actually count? Don't blame me [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] planted that seed of doubt in my mind lol.

 

[Abdullah476]

Yeah okay, we'll see about that. But does scoring runs against SL actually count? Don't blame me [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] planted that seed of doubt in my mind lol.

They're no.6 in the test rankings so they're no minnows.
It does count

 

[Hyperion66]

They're no.6 in the test rankings so they're no minnows.
It does count

Yes absolutely, it does bro, I was just kidding.

 

[Abdullah476]

Yes absolutely, it does bro, I was just kidding.

Just in case...

 

[TheRock]

They're no.6 in the test rankings so they're no minnows.
It does count

SL are ranked 7 right now. Till Oct 2019, they were ranked 8. Not suggesting that they r Minnows. But correcting the ranking.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Babar can/should never join the current Fab 4 as he's from a different age group than them. Kohli is 31, Smith is 30 , Williamson and Root are 29. These guys made their debuts atleast 5-6 years before Babar came into int'l Cricket. So , the discussion should end then and there. His performances and potential are a secondary.

It's better to make a future potential Fab 4 and add Babar to that list. Say Babar/De Kock/Shai Hope/Latham ?
This would be a much more apt comparison.

If he is competing against Hope's and Latham's in tests, he is probably already won this over.

His competition will be the next generation of Indian batsmen including Prithvi Shaw etc.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Ridiculous comparisons, all of these. There is no such thing as Fab 4. For all the hype none of the so called Fab 4 group can play an innings like Ben Stokes or Kusal Perera against Australia and South Africa respectively.

If scoring runs is the only criteria, Babar is one of the best for sure. He does know the art of making runs and taking advantage. He is no less than anyone else in the world cricket.

 

[Mesozoic]

If he is competing against Hope's and Latham's in tests, he is probably already won this over.

His competition will be the next generation of Indian batsmen including Prithvi Shaw etc.

If it was about winning over then Smith and Kohli have already won this over in Tests and ODIs/T20s respectively.

 

[Abdullah476]

SL are ranked 7 right now. Till Oct 2019, they were ranked 8. Not suggesting that they r Minnows. But correcting the ranking.

No correction needed because they are ranked no.6 not 7

Check it on the ICC's website

 

[TheRock]

No correction needed because they are ranked no.6 not 7

Check it on the ICC's website

Yes indeed. They r ranked 6th in test. I was talking about their t20 ranking. Later realised that the discussion was regarding tests.

 

[Aman]

Marnus and Babar can take Kane and Root's spots if they keep this up for another year or two.

 

[saeed5646]

Babar can/should never join the current Fab 4 as he's from a different age group than them. Kohli is 31, Smith is 30 , Williamson and Root are 29. These guys made their debuts atleast 5-6 years before Babar came into int'l Cricket. So , the discussion should end then and there. His performances and potential are a secondary.

It's better to make a future potential Fab 4 and add Babar to that list. Say Babar/De Kock/Shai Hope/Latham ?
This would be a much more apt comparison.

Pretty much this

 

[jnaveen1980]

Babar can/should never join the current Fab 4 as he's from a different age group than them. Kohli is 31, Smith is 30 , Williamson and Root are 29. These guys made their debuts atleast 5-6 years before Babar came into int'l Cricket. So , the discussion should end then and there. His performances and potential are a secondary.

It's better to make a future potential Fab 4 and add Babar to that list. Say Babar/De Kock/Shai Hope/Latham ?
This would be a much more apt comparison.

You cannot randomly pick 4 and assemble another fab 4. It is contrived. Fab 4 automatically happened. Nobody planned it. Bit like Botham, Imran, Hadlee, Kapil. As i keep saying Amla despite stellar recrdos was never bracketed with guys like Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting. Same with Kallis, Dravid, Chanderpaul.

 

[Ab Fan]

Babar, considering his age, and his performance till now, should be bracketed alongside Quinton de kock, Agarwal, Labuschagne and maybe Latham.

However, Babar has a higher ceiling than Latham, Labu has made it to only one format and Agarwal is already three years older to him. It's basically the duo- Qdk and Babar. For others, we are still unsure if they can make it that big.

 

[lifecric7]

Overhyping such a trundler batsman., I mean what had he achieved and how many odi and test series has he won against top 6 nations

 

[jnaveen1980]

For the record Jonathan Trott averages 44 in Tests, 51 in ODIs lol That too in the 2000s. Hussey 51 average in tests, 48 in the ODIs. You could clearly see who is better batsman between the two.

 

[andy0204]

For the record Jonathan Trott averages 44 in Tests, 51 in ODIs lol That too in the 2000s. Hussey 51 average in tests, 48 in the ODIs. You could clearly see who is better batsman between the two.

Trott is a mental midget.

 

[Titan24]

Overhyping such a trundler batsman., I mean what had he achieved and how many odi and test series has he won against top 6 nations

Pretty over the top post. While no doubt Babar has to achieve more in tests but he is currently no 3 ranked in ODIs no 1 in T20s, no 13 in tests and is youngest in all the three in top 10 and top 15 if we exclude Zarzai because he played mostly against minnows.

That’s definitely something.

 

[lifecric7]

Pretty over the top post. While no doubt Babar has to achieve more in tests but he is currently no 3 ranked in ODIs no 1 in T20s, no 13 in tests and is youngest in all the three in top 10 and top 15 if we exclude Zarzai because he played mostly against minnows.

That’s definitely something.

Please show me stats where he has won something significant for the team and then we we can think of rating him

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Please show me stats where he has won something significant for the team and then we we can think of rating him

Babar is anything but a trundler.

He is a future great of the game barring any major mishap.

Trundler would be something like Pant.

 

[Sidilicious]

Babar is anything but a trundler.

He is a future great of the game barring any major mishap.

Trundler would be something like Pant.

I think hack is the correct word there. Trundler would be Rahane. From Pakistan, I'd call Sarfaraz and Azhar Ali a trundler.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar can/should never join the current Fab 4 as he's from a different age group than them. Kohli is 31, Smith is 30 , Williamson and Root are 29. These guys made their debuts atleast 5-6 years before Babar came into int'l Cricket. So , the discussion should end then and there. His performances and potential are a secondary.

It's better to make a future potential Fab 4 and add Babar to that list. Say Babar/De Kock/Shai Hope/Latham ?
This would be a much more apt comparison.

Root made his international debut in 2012-13, Babar made his international debut in 2015.

Obviously, there is a significant difference between the number of Tests England and Pakistan play, and Root has been a fixture in the Test team since his debut, while Babar had to wait for 3 years before he got his break.

Among the Fab Four and Babar, Root is the only one who didn’t get his chance before his 20s.

Whether England held him back too late and whether it arrested his development could be interesting questions.

 

[Titan24]

Please show me stats where he has won something significant for the team and then we we can think of rating him

I will give you three instances for all three formats:

ODIs: 101* against NZ in WC in on a difficult wicket (2019)

T20s: 50* off 29 in NZ (Eiden Park), making it possible for Pak to score 200+ and winning the match and come back in the series which Pak won later (2018)

Tests: 127* against NZ in the first innings of Dubai test which Pak won by more than an innings (2018)

Bonus Instance: Lord's test, came in at 119/3 on a pretty difficult wicket and changed the momentum of the game by scoring 68 runs before getting retired hurt. It was the second highest score of the match after Cook's 70 which shows how difficult was the wicket and also keep in mind Babar didnt get out rather fractured his wrist. Pak won the match by 9 wickets.

 

[lifecric7]

I will give you three instances for all three formats:

ODIs: 101* against NZ in WC in on a difficult wicket (2019)

T20s: 50* off 29 in NZ (Eiden Park), making it possible for Pak to score 200+ and winning the match and come back in the series which Pak won later (2018)

Tests: 127* against NZ in the first innings of Dubai test which Pak won by more than an innings (2018)

Bonus Instance: Lord's test, came in at 119/3 on a pretty difficult wicket and changed the momentum of the game by scoring 68 runs before getting retired hurt. It was the second highest score of the match after Cook's 70 which shows how difficult was the wicket and also keep in mind Babar didnt get out rather fractured his wrist. Pak won the match by 9 wickets.

So fab 4 have more than 10 instances of doing the same.. he needs to replicate that consistently to be rated at same level.. until then he is like average batsman with potential

 

[Ab Fan]

I will give you three instances for all three formats:

ODIs: 101* against NZ in WC in on a difficult wicket (2019)

T20s: 50* off 29 in NZ (Eiden Park), making it possible for Pak to score 200+ and winning the match and come back in the series which Pak won later (2018)

Tests: 127* against NZ in the first innings of Dubai test which Pak won by more than an innings (2018)

<B>Bonus Instance: Lord's test, came in at 119/3 on a pretty difficult wicket and changed the momentum of the game by scoring 68 runs before getting retired hurt. It was the second highest score of the match after Cook's 70 which shows how difficult was the wicket and also keep in mind Babar didnt get out rather fractured his wrist. Pak won the match by 9 wickets.</B>

It was hardly a difficult wicket. Pakistan got 360 runs in first inning with Azhar, Shafiq, Babar and even Shadab got their fifties. I remember that test, Buttler got a 65 odd as well and Bess got a fifty also, even Root had a 68 in 2nd inning.

 

[KingT]

It was hardly a difficult wicket. Pakistan got 360 runs in first inning with Azhar, Shafiq, Babar and even Shadab got their fifties. I remember that test, Buttler got a 65 odd as well and Bess got a fifty also, even Root had a 68 in 2nd inning.

Babar's score was the joint second highest of the whole match despite him getting injured AND he had scored only 68.

Of course it was a difficult wicket. Why did you deliberately leave out that Eng got out on 180?

"hardly a difficult wicket" )
Stop undermining others performances

 

[Mesozoic]

Root made his international debut in 2012-13, Babar made his international debut in 2015.

Obviously, there is a significant difference between the number of Tests England and Pakistan play, and Root has been a fixture in the Test team since his debut, while Babar had to wait for 3 years before he got his break.

Among the Fab Four and Babar, Root is the only one who didn’t get his chance before his 20s.

Whether England held him back too late and whether it arrested his development could be interesting questions.

Agree. Root started off a bit later than the others but the number of Tests they played were pretty much the same. Infact Root has played more tests than the other 3 even after debuting two years later than Smith and KW and one year after Kohli.

 

[Titan24]

So fab 4 have more than 10 instances of doing the same.. he needs to replicate that consistently to be rated at same level.. until then he is like average batsman with potential

When did I say he should be part of Fab 4? Can you quote even one post of mine stating the same on this thread?

You tilt towards extreme on both sides. Firstly I have said time and time again that Babar needs to do more in tests to achieve the stature of Fab 4 but he is younger than the guys he is competing with. Secondly, Fab 4 was named to talk about 4 players around similar age group, and being 1 or 2 down and backbones of their respective teams. Babar is neither of the same age group so even him being considered anywhere close to them in any format is a big achievement for him. Though arguably in T20s he is better than Fab 4 except Kohli while in ODIs he has more centuries than Smith and isnt too far from Williamson and eventually Root.

Also your definition of average might require a bit tweaking: Average or rather poor is what you see in the performances of Karthik, Rahul, Rahane, Pant etc when you consider all three formats.

Averaging 50+ in two of the formats and ranked no 1 and 3 in those two at 25 years of age when others around are much older cant be called average.

Kindly add facts to you posts rather than passing random statements without anything to back them, otherwise it appears nothing more than trolling.

 

[Titan24]

It was hardly a difficult wicket. Pakistan got 360 runs in first inning with Azhar, Shafiq, Babar and even Shadab got their fifties. I remember that test, Buttler got a 65 odd as well and Bess got a fifty also, even Root had a 68 in 2nd inning.

Then I must say either Pak bowling was exceptional or Eng is a really poor test team as getting out for 184 and 242 and that too at home with only 8 double figure scores across the 2 innings and highest of 70 on a flat track is abysmal performance.

Irrespective of the numbers, if you watched that match wicket was nowhere near what you call an easy wicket.

 

[Hyperion66]

Then I must say either Pak bowling was exceptional or Eng is a really poor test team as getting out for 184 and 242 and that too at home with only 8 double figure scores across the 2 innings and highest of 70 on a flat track is abysmal performance.

Irrespective of the numbers, if you watched that match wicket was nowhere near what you call an easy wicket.

I have watched that match, it wasn't a particularly difficult wicket but no flat road either. Pak actually bowled exceptionally well, took the English by surprise. Everyone contributed even Faheem and Shadab, it was a near perfect test win for Pak, credit where it is due.

 

[Ab Fan]

Then I must say either Pak bowling was exceptional or Eng is a really poor test team as getting out for 184 and 242 and that too at home with only 8 double figure scores across the 2 innings and highest of 70 on a flat track is abysmal performance.

Irrespective of the numbers, if you watched that match wicket was nowhere near what you call an easy wicket.

Pakistan actually bowled very well in first inning, helped by some poor batting by England in the first inning of the game. I am not saying it was a flat wicket but you would get your runs value if you bat with right approach.

The fact that even Shadab got a fifty and there were total four Pakistanis who got fifties tell us that it was honestly not that tough wicket to bat at. Buttler and Root both got 65 odd runs as well in the second inning of that test but England lost the game due to poor batting in first inning itself. It was a team effort that won you that game.

 

[ChennaiFan]

Fab 4 or 5 is just a tag. Babar is already a wonderful batsman. As a fan, watching a great batsman like him bat against a top class pace bowler in tough match situation or batting against a good leg spinner on a turning pitch gives me more pleasure than any tags.

 

[Mobashir]

So only Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are in the top 10 ranked batsmen in all 3 formats.

Babar's place in test is not yet secured and a failure in the next test can push him out so he will have to do well.

Not that I base myself in rankings and I agree that they mean little but the fact that Babar and Kohli are the second best batsman in the world on current form is quite clear.

 

[Fahdi]

So only Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are in the top 10 ranked batsmen in all 3 formats.

Babar's place in test is not yet secured and a failure in the next test can push him out so he will have to do well.

Not that I base myself in rankings and I agree that they mean little but the fact that Babar and Kohli are the second best batsman in the world on current form is quite clear.

Certainly making a case for 2nd best batsman across all formats

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I'll repeat it again. Babar is top 3 and is gunning for the top spot.

 

[KingKhanXi]

How can he be top 3, he is still very inconsistent in test matches. Other than one innings in Australia, he was nowhere to be found in whole tour.

 

[Usman Chadda]

How can he be top 3, he is still very inconsistent in test matches. Other than one innings in Australia, he was nowhere to be found in whole tour.

He made a century and 97. That's two good innings in four.

 

[JaDed]

Certainly making a case for 2nd best batsman across all formats

I think he meant to say both are at #2 and Smith #1..

 

[Danyaalr01]

Apart from Kohli, Babar is the only batsman who is doing well in all formats in all conditions. Williamson is next, but he has reached his ceiling in white ball cricket, and Babar is already past him on LOIs. Root has fallen a long way in tests, and Babar is about to overtake him in the rankings.

 

[Mobashir]

I think he meant to say both are at #2 and Smith #1..

Exactly, Smith is not in the same category at the moment. He is doing what every batsmen of every generation could have done but wasn't able to do it. Dominate test cricket like no other.

 

[Mesozoic]

Lol at him being at Kohli's level and second best batsman in the world. He averages 38 in Tests and has 3 100s , the same as Labuschagne who's played half his no.of tests.

He is world class. No doubt. But still has a long way to go to reach the level of Smith/Kohli. He will need a consistent run for a few more months to reach the level of Williamson/Root.

 

[Aman]

I'll repeat it again. Babar is top 3 and is gunning for the top spot.

Definitely top 4.

I can't put him ahead of Smith, Kohli or Marnus.

 

[Aman]

Lol at him being at Kohli's level and second best batsman in the world. He averages 38 in Tests and has 3 100s , the same as Labuschagne who's played half his no.of tests.

He is world class. No doubt. But still has a long way to go to reach the level of Smith/Kohli. He will need a consistent run for a few more months to reach the level of Williamson/Root.

He's already ahead of Williamson and Root who have not produced for years.

It's been a Fab 2 for the last 2-3 years, maybe Marnus and Babar can make it a Fab 4.

 

[Aman]

Certainly making a case for 2nd best batsman across all formats

A distant second, but second.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

I dunno how anybody could argue that Babar is not the second best batsman across all formats, given he's the only batsman other than Kohli who's in top 10 in every format.

 

[Mesozoic]

He's already ahead of Williamson and Root who have not produced for years.

It's been a Fab 2 for the last 2-3 years, maybe Marnus and Babar can make it a Fab 4.

It doesn't work like that.

Williamson and Root average 52 and 48 respectively even after not performing at their level for a year. This just proves how consistent they were before and are just going through a lean patch. Heck , Root recently scored a double in New Zealand. It's criminal to compare them with a guy who avgs 38 let alone say he's better than them.

And people harping on about "current form", by that logic Labuschagne is a better batsman than Smith. But when you use the more sane logic, it's not easy to realise that Smith is the best Test player in the world.

 

[Raja111]

Let him first average 55+ with 25+ centuries in Test Cricket and then think about him being the second best bat!

 

[Usman Chadda]

He's already ahead of Williamson and Root who have not produced for years.

It's been a Fab 2 for the last 2-3 years, maybe Marnus and Babar can make it a Fab 4.

No, he's not. And neither should Marnus be included in this discussion after only performing in two countries, one of them being his home.

The Fab 4 are established cricketers, and Babar should not be compared to them. The longevity of these players has been immense, specially Kohli, Smith and KW.

 

[Aman]

No, he's not. And neither should Marnus be included in this discussion after only performing in two countries, one of them being his home.

The Fab 4 are established cricketers, and Babar should not be compared to them. The longevity of these players has been immense, specially Kohli, Smith and KW.

For two of them yes, the longevity is there. Forecasting Babar he will surpass Kane and Root who have a lot of flaws in their record, deficiencies in their technique and mentalities. It's why they've been left in Kohli and Smith's dust and why everyone tends to only talk about those two when talking about the best.

Babar performing against the same attack Kane is facing now and struggling against is enough for me to put him ahead of Kane who if it weren't for Denly dropping the easiest catch in history wouldn't have a single century in more than a year.

I have no issue of putting Marnus, Babar or Warner ahead of Kane and Root currently. In a few years they could make the Fab 2 a 3 or 4.

 

[Aman]

It doesn't work like that.

Williamson and Root average 52 and 48 respectively even after not performing at their level for a year. This just proves how consistent they were before and are just going through a lean patch. Heck , Root recently scored a double in New Zealand. It's criminal to compare them with a guy who avgs 38 let alone say he's better than them.

And people harping on about "current form", by that logic Labuschagne is a better batsman than Smith. But when you use the more sane logic, it's not easy to realise that Smith is the best Test player in the world.

No, it means they've scored runs on roads and against weak attacks.

Roots first ton in god knows how long came on road against us where both teams complained about how flat the pitch was.

Kane also scored his first ton of the year IIRC on the same pitch, his previous ton I think was against SL last year at home. Memory is hazy tbh.