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Is Babar Azam cut out for Test cricket?

waleed88 said:
His career is already a foregone conclusion for me, he will do great to learn some offspin to provide some capabilities of an allrounder... because his technique is nowhere near that of an International batsman to be persisted with in Test Matches... will probably end up having sorry stats like Hafeez if he is persisted in Test Matches any longer...
After having an already below parr tour to Australia averaging 12... he now has a pair to show for his efforts in the Windies
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Bas karo bhai.

The innings he played in NZ in tough conditions with the ball moving around is miles better than any innings Hafeez has played in his life.

Hafeez wouldn't last 10 balls in the same scenario, and we have his whole career as proof of his ineptness against even a millimetre of swing.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Bas karo bhai.

The innings he played in NZ in tough conditions with the ball moving around is miles better than any innings Hafeez has played in his life.

Hafeez wouldn't last 10 balls in the same scenario, and we have his whole career as proof of his ineptness against even a millimetre of swing.
Click to expand...

He is so bitter in his posts.
 
And for God Sake. Babar is not playing test cricket from 6 years, Barely 6 months old in this format. And you have threads like these, He is a top order bat who should be persisted in the top order.
 
No havent done anything substantial in 20 innings so a big NO right now.. let him play some first class before including in tests.. Its time for Fawad Alam and Haris Sohail. I'll give the next series to Hussain Talat aswell.
 
Hamza_ said:
And for God Sake. Babar is not playing test cricket from 6 years, Barely 6 months old in this format. And you have threads like these, He is a top order bat who should be persisted in the top order.
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Top order bat who is missing straight deliveries down the leg side... yea I see greatness in him already. These are school boy errors and International cricket is no place to eradicate them
 
You obviously have non cricketing reason to dislike Babar, why not wait a year and if the problems still persist, create anti-babar threads to your hearts content, because then it would be justified.
 
waleed88 said:
Top order bat who is missing straight deliveries down the leg side... yea I see greatness in him already. These are school boy errors and International cricket is no place to eradicate them
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So missing deliveries down the leg side was your problem... well MYK do that very often, even in the recent tours he got out twice like that, eng tour i guess where he was dancing... Have seen numerous times MISBAH and ASAD get out LBW the same way bringing the bat across the line even for straight deliveries or little movement coming into the right hander and still they do that... Hafeez you can watch series were steyn get him out regularly, same shot repeat replay get out again..So they are not classified as school boy errors.. Your reasons to drop babar are not solid enough, better luck next time...
 
ask_analyse_act said:
So missing deliveries down the leg side was your problem... well MYK do that very often, even in the recent tours he got out twice like that, eng tour i guess where he was dancing... Have seen numerous times MISBAH and ASAD get out LBW the same way bringing the bat across the line even for straight deliveries or little movement coming into the right hander and still they do that... Hafeez you can watch series were steyn get him out regularly, same shot repeat replay get out again..So they are not classified as school boy errors.. Your reasons to drop babar are not solid enough, better luck next time...
Click to expand...

Yes, Hafeez faced vs Steyn what Babar faced against Starc and Hazelwood... an average of 12.

Now a walking wicket against the Windies too
 
waleed88 said:
Yes, Hafeez faced vs Steyn what Babar faced against Starc and Hazelwood... an average of 12.

Now a walking wicket against the Windies too
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if babar scores in 3rd test and succeeds in test cricket which is not very far, hope i dont see you there...
 
waleed88 said:
Yes, Hafeez faced vs Steyn what Babar faced against Starc and Hazelwood... an average of 12.

Now a walking wicket against the Windies too
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A seasoned pro and 'senior' being schooled whilst being an integral member of the team vs. a 22-year-old being schooled in his first year of Test cricket.

Nothing more needs to be said. :babar
 
Also trying to play a delivery across the line down the leg side to Hazelwood and Starc at the start of your innings...

And doing the same thing against Holder and Gabriel is almost the same thing... which means its becoming a recurrent theme at the start of his innings... it will be wise to not compare established test match greats like Misbah and Younis to a one down batsman averaging 27... regardless of how much potential he has
 
Abdullah719 said:
When Joe Root made his Test debut, he had a similar FC record as Babar does right now.
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If you can give him the link of the interview that was done by pp before where BABAR gave a valid reason when questioned about his low avg in the domestic FC in one of the seasons which lead to a low avg.....
 
Abdullah719 said:
A seasoned pro and 'senior' being schooled whilst being an integral member of the team vs. a 22-year-old being schooled in his first year of Test cricket.

Nothing more needs to be said. :babar
Click to expand...

Yes a seasoned pro on his first tour to SA, like Babar when visitng Australia for the first time.. there is always a first time for everything.

Whether its facing world class bowlers like Dale Steyn, or Josh Hazelwood..

What you do in 9 innings is then upto you, regardless what age you are as a batsman..

This learning at the International level is a trait only in Pakistan... Australia produces ready made products like Hanscomb and Renshaw who then also perform in foreign conditions like India
 
ask_analyse_act said:
If you can give him the link of the interview that was done by pp before where BABAR gave a valid reason when questioned about his low avg in the domestic FC in one of the seasons which lead to a low avg.....
Click to expand...

This one?

More recently during the First Class season, I got hit by a ball and fractured a bone so I wasn’t able to play as much as I would have liked. I’m certainly disappointed that I’ve now played 15 First Class matches but haven’t scored a century yet despite making five 50s. I started very well this season so I felt I would achieve this feat, but unfortunately I got injured which did ruin my season a bit. Last season I struggled a lot but I worked very hard on my game and doubled my efforts so I feel I came back a much improved player. However the injury meant I wasn’t able to play during the whole season. - See more at: http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?199461
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It's a slightly old interview now.

An average start in first-class cricket for a young player is no big deal, it happens.
[MENTION=143225]Ultimate[/MENTION], I'll get back to you soon regarding the exact numbers that Root and Babar had in FC cricket at the time of their Test debuts. ;-)
 
waleed88 said:
Yes a seasoned pro on his first tour to SA, like Babar when visitng Australia for the first time.. there is always a first time for everything.

Whether its facing world class bowlers like Dale Steyn, or Josh Hazelwood..

What you do in 9 innings is then upto you, regardless what age you are as a batsman..

This learning at the International level is a trait only in Pakistan... Australia produces ready made products like Hanscomb and Renshaw who then also perform in foreign conditions like India
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But the seasoned pro still gets out in the same manner to the likes of Anwar Ali on flat pitches. :(

You're conveniently just picking out random choices to justify your point. How well did Kane Williamson and Joe Root start their Test careers?

Joe Root was averaging mid-30s after 15 Test matches.

Kane Williamson - mid-30s after 30 Test matches!

Why weren't they dropped? :(
 
Abdullah719 said:
This one?



It's a slightly old interview now.

An average start in first-class cricket for a young player is no big deal, it happens.
[MENTION=143225]Ultimate[/MENTION], I'll get back to you soon regarding the exact numbers that Root and Babar had in FC cricket at the time of their Test debuts. ;-)
Click to expand...

yaar apki hi himmat he, you've been depating with waleed for quite a while now...
 
Abdullah719 said:
This one?



It's a slightly old interview now.

An average start in first-class cricket for a young player is no big deal, it happens.
[MENTION=143225]Ultimate[/MENTION], I'll get back to you soon regarding the exact numbers that Root and Babar had in FC cricket at the time of their Test debuts. ;-)
Click to expand...

yes exactly... thanks for sharing... already given them some stats of the test greats of the recent greats,
 
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Ultimate said:
Not similar, plus Root had played less FC games compared to Babar.
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Wrong on all accounts. :)

Root made his England Test debut on 13th December 2012.

Until then, he had played 36 FC matches, scoring 2015 runs at an average of 38.

Babar made his Pakistan Test debut on 13th October 2016.

Until then, he had played 26 FC matches, scoring 1522 runs at an average of 41.1.

:salute
 
Abdullah719 said:
This one?



It's a slightly old interview now.

An average start in first-class cricket for a young player is no big deal, it happens.
[MENTION=143225]Ultimate[/MENTION], I'll get back to you soon regarding the exact numbers that Root and Babar had in FC cricket at the time of their Test debuts. ;-)
Click to expand...

Sure, would be interesting to see.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Wrong on all accounts. :)

Root made his England Test debut on 13th December 2012.

Until then, he had played 36 FC matches, scoring 2015 runs at an average of 38.

Babar made his Pakistan Test debut on 13th October 2016.

Until then, he had played 26 FC matches, scoring 1522 runs at an average of 41.1.

:salute
Click to expand...

Ok, interesting. Let's see how Babar progresses.
 
How has Babar Azam still made the cut despite his atrocious stats is beyond me.. and that too in place of someone like Fawad Alam.

Rest assured the few 'chosen ones' will always be ever present with no accountability whatsoever.

Maybe selectors are hoping BA will finally prove them right and make do of his atrocious stats by performing in UAE conditions...
 
Maybe since he is performance vs World X! a criteria for his test match selection, however others are not afforded the same luxury the 'prince that was promised' is
 
waleed88 said:
How has Babar Azam still made the cut despite his atrocious stats is beyond me.. and that too in place of someone like Fawad Alam.

Rest assured the few 'chosen ones' will always be ever present with no accountability whatsoever.

Maybe selectors are hoping BA will finally prove them right and make do of his atrocious stats by performing in UAE conditions...
Click to expand...
Fawad Alam is done yaar. Time to invest in:

Babar Azam
Haris Sohail
Usman Salahuddin

These 3 are the golden trio you will see them pull off many famous test victories for Pakistan in the future. Just give them a chance 😊
 
Can Babar Azam hold his place in Tests for Pakistan?

Has had an extended run, but still fails.

It's just a matter of time before he's shown the way

Good LO player tho
 
Yes, he'll hold his place because there isn't much batting talent in pakistan in the first place, he's the best they've got
 
This is a funny thread. He's the batsman Pakistan have. Of course, if you keep fidgeting with his position, he's going to have problems but considering how good he looked in the Independence Cup and his knock in the CT Final, I would have him as a regular in all three formats.

The management just needs to stop fidgeting with his position. There's no doubt about the fact that Azhar is our best opener and Azam is our best batsman and the future and going by logic, your best batsman bats at 3.
 
Kohli said:
They already gave him an extended run. I think he debuted last October. A year in cricket without being dropped. 5 series, at same position mostly. Despite that averages 28, and even today got out on 28.
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to highlight this is only his 2nd test in UAE.. they did the same with UA...shouldnt do with babar...
 
I think he will be fine and very soon he will play a knock that will put this thread to bed.
 
Stick with him for now. It's not like we have any better options. He's not going to improve by playing our rubbish domestic competition. He'll only improve by playing test cricket.
 
Usman Salahuddin sitting on the bench should keep Babar Azam on his toes, he has to start scoring big or otherwise they are capable batsmen knocking on the door of this test team.
 
Friend786 said:
Usman Salahuddin sitting on the bench should keep Babar Azam on his toes, he has to start scoring big or otherwise they are capable batsmen knocking on the door of this test team.
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With Shan Masood scoring a fifty and Haris Sohail being new I do not see Usman Salahuddin getting a chance this year.

Mickey isn't someone who would drop players quickly unless it's for disciplinary reasons.
 
Rana said:
I think he will be fine and very soon he will play a knock that will put this thread to bed.
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Bro just a knock is not enough. I hope u can make the difference. If it's just about knock, he has already played in New Zealand. It's about consistency.

If u judge players based on knocks then Afridi, Akmal, will all be legends. They have many knocks.

I would be happy if he proves me wrong, but u can't be giving chances based on talent.

First they said it's green pitches in NZ. Then it was said it's first time tour to AUS. Then it was WI tracks not good for batting. Now, 2nd test in UAE.

Later it will be first test in Eng, then first time south Africa.

By then it would be 2019. You can't give 3 years to anyone based on talent. He's a brilliant lOI player, but not cut for test, at least for now.
 
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This is his 10th test. And he has 4 fifties. Couple this with his potential that you see with your eyes when you see him bat. He should not be dropped anytime soon.
 
Rana said:
I think he will be fine and very soon he will play a knock that will put this thread to bed.
Click to expand...

Producing one good knock is not Babar's problem; stringing together enough of them to be called a good Test batsman is. No amount of talent can make up for concentration and tenacity, and one wonders how much of the Akmal disposition he has inherited. He can be given a bit more time, but not that much I would say.
 
Kohli said:
Yes 2nd test in UAE. He didn't do anything in WI either.
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Wat did shafiq Misbah and younis. Couldn't remember how much they made in the series.
The only batsmen who consistently scores in the last 2 years home and away was AZHAR only.
 
Kohli said:
Bro just a knock is not enough. I hope u can make the difference. If it's just about knock, he has already played in New Zealand. It's about consistency.

If u judge players based on knocks then Afridi, Akmal, will all be legends. They have many knocks.

I would be happy if he proves me wrong, but u can't be giving chances based on talent.

First they said it's green pitches in NZ. Then it was said it's first time tour to AUS. Then it was WI tracks not good for batting. Now, 2nd test in UAE.

Later it will be first test in Eng, then first time south Africa.

By then it would be 2019. You can't give 3 years to anyone based on talent. He's a brilliant lOI player, but not cut for test, at least for now.
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By one knock it means a knock that will give him the confidence to kick start his Test career as a runs compiler on dead flat wickets with a strike rate of 55-60 at an average of 60 as well. He clearly has the ability to be that good on these sort of tracks, far better than everyone else in Pakistan. Yes, I agree that he may not have the same ability outside Asia. But the management would be stupid to drop him for someone else. He will come good very soon
 
Madplayer said:
This is his 10th test. And he has 4 fifties. Couple this with his potential that you see with your eyes when you see him bat. He should not be dropped anytime soon.
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I'm pretty skeptical that one can instantly spot concentration and application "with your eyes." In the end the proof is in the pudding and so far Babar looks a tad undercooked. Stark contrast with Fawad, who had one daddy century in gruelling conditions after just 3 Tests, but could not buy a third of the chances that have been given to Babar or Shafiq.
 
Kohli said:
Bro just a knock is not enough. I hope u can make the difference. If it's just about knock, he has already played in New Zealand. It's about consistency.

If u judge players based on knocks then Afridi, Akmal, will all be legends. They have many knocks.

I would be happy if he proves me wrong, but u can't be giving chances based on talent.

First they said it's green pitches in NZ. Then it was said it's first time tour to AUS. Then it was WI tracks not good for batting. Now, 2nd test in UAE.

Later it will be first test in Eng, then first time south Africa.

By then it would be 2019. You can't give 3 years to anyone based on talent. He's a brilliant lOI player, but not cut for test, at least for now.
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Can give him this and the next series in UAE to judge his consistency and I'm sure he will come good. Just in the world 11 series he showed how consistent he was at home though coming back from very poor CPLt20.
 
Amir doesn't get a wicket thread pops up "Can Amir holds his position", Babar doesn't score a ton thread pops up "Can Babar hold his position" please.....
 
He is here to stay.He is a real talented player.Just need a bit more time.
 
Probably just needs to get the one century to really get going, although he has been frustrating in tests. Should stick with him for this series and the next at least though
 
Laughable thread Hes a young batting talent with immense potential He will and should be given an extended run

Its not like we have other superb talents knocking at the door

He should be a dead cert for the next 6 tests or so and then a decision made
 
Looked good today and looked better than Asad Shafiq.

I said this earlier, playing him in T20s would affect his Test form and potential.
 
Patience is something most Pakistani fans just don't have. Some are just clueless
 
Young man is making it really difficult for people backing him on & off the field. I understand that this wicket isn't that great for a young batsman of his type, but throwing wicket in last over of the day to such a ball demands lots more scrutiny. I am sure Umar Akmal's last outing in Test cricket was very much similar - got after a nothing ball in last over of a tight Test - ittefaq, that was also 3rd day & side batting first posted almost similar total & at same rate. Even I can give him a BoD if it was a good ball, but ....... players should understand that they earn the Test cap, not born with some privilege.
 
He's the next Umar Akmal, his career will go down the same way. Calling it now.

It's in the genes after all.
 
Needs to be persisted with for now.

We will bear the fruit after a few series - must think long term.
 
He has a first class average of 37~, so it's not like he was ever going to be this star test batter. He has a great List A average, and has translated that pretty well into Internationals as well.
 
Plumb said:
Amir doesn't get a wicket thread pops up "Can Amir holds his position", Babar doesn't score a ton thread pops up "Can Babar hold his position" please.....
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:)) Well said.
 
I think if there is one player who should be given a free pass and a long run in Test cricket then it's Babar Azam. He is arguably your best ODI batsman. He has the technique and with time and experience he will only get better. Keep in mind Pakistan doesn't play a lot of test matches so every match is imperative for his growth. He is also one of the only players who has come in to the team based on his domestic performances. He is clearly the future and it would make no sense not to persist with him.
 
Plumb said:
Amir doesn't get a wicket thread pops up "Can Amir holds his position", Babar doesn't score a ton thread pops up "Can Babar hold his position" please.....
Click to expand...

Honestly, I am getting a bit sick of these ridiculous threads.
 
Once again another senseless thread.He has not even played 10 tests yet.He will come good.
 
He should play at 3 in both Tests and ODI's. I would leave him out of the Pak T20 team completely but its understandable if he still wants to participate in PSL etc.
 
Kohli said:
Has had an extended run, but still fails.

It's just a matter of time before he's shown the way

Good LO player tho
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I told everyone this man doesn't have the temperament to be a test cricketer. Should focus on his bowling now because in the long run he's not gonna do much better than Hafeez or Malik (who both struggled in test cricket as well). Don't be fooled by that average of 50, thats mostly inflated due to facing the WI. His real average us around 30 in ODIs too
 
New Yorker said:
I'm pretty skeptical that one can instantly spot concentration and application "with your eyes." In the end the proof is in the pudding and so far Babar looks a tad undercooked. Stark contrast with Fawad, who had one daddy century in gruelling conditions after just 3 Tests, but could not buy a third of the chances that have been given to Babar or Shafiq.
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Yes but Babar also has a 260 in domestic FC final (or was it semi final). You see what im saying.
 
A person's knowledge of Test cricket and player development starts to show with such threads.

After 9 Tests

Babar Azam: 27.25 AVG

Hashim Amla: 22.47
Jacques Kallis: 23.21
Steve Smith 29.00

Viv Richards: 30.30
Younis Khan: 31.00
Inzamam Ul Haq: 31.84
VVS Laxman: 32.00
Kumar Sangakkara: 33.31

I'm guessing you'd kick these guys to the curb too? :))
 
Saj said:
Looked good today and looked better than Asad Shafiq.

I said this earlier, playing him in T20s would affect his Test form and potential.
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Saj, to your point, I respectfully disagree. If Babar has to become one of the worlds leading batsman (which he should be aiming for), then he needs to excel in all formats! The key component of that is your mindset . . He needs to be looking up to the likes of Kohli, Root, Amla, Smith, Williamson . . who play all formats and excel in all formats! If he is looking at middle tier batsman around the world, then I think he would be doing a disservice to his talent! Hard work and dedication is what it takes. I read an article about Kohli recently, where he was talking about not having faith in his six hitting ability cuz he wasn't ever a six hitter. He had to work incredibly hard to develop that and according to him, since he has become comfortable in his six hitting ability, his batting has gone to another level. Point is -- Hard work!

Issue with Babar Azam is mindset! and it's not a Babar Azam issue, its a Pakistan issue. And I sure do hope Mickey Arthur will address this. For some odd reason, our players coming to test cricket somehow think they HAVE to curb their natural styles and ability to play at a certain strike rate because its test cricket . . If my memory serves me right, Babar got out scrambled down the leg side twice in the WI. I don't remember him getting out like this during a limited overs game . . cuz he would hit it or be more committed to the stroke! Babar needs to play his game! and go and dominate cuz he is good enough to do so! Unless he thinks that and has this fear, he won't become the player that he can become.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You guys should try this

Sami
Imam
Azhar
Fakhar (good against spin)
Haris
Sarfraz * +
Yamin(AR)

Fawad , Usman back ups
Shan, Babar , Asad back to domestics.
 
kingusama92 said:
A person's knowledge of Test cricket and player development starts to show with such threads.

After 9 Tests

Babar Azam: 27.25 AVG

Hashim Amla: 22.47
Jacques Kallis: 23.21
Steve Smith 29.00

Viv Richards: 30.30
Younis Khan: 31.00
Inzamam Ul Haq: 31.84
VVS Laxman: 32.00
Kumar Sangakkara: 33.31

I'm guessing you'd kick these guys to the curb too? :))
Click to expand...

Hopefully this post ends this thread.
 
He doesn't know his game for Test cricket yet. It'll take a bit more time for him to work out how to pace his innings, when to accelerate and when to block. It was a nothing delivery he got out to, caught down the legside on the last ball of the day.

Shouldn't be dropped as he's had a baptism of fire with so many away tours early in his Test career. However it may be worth taking him out of the firing line to relieve some of the pressure on him by putting him at 6 for now and let him play his natural game.

Once he strings some good knocks together he can come back up the order.
 
Babar Azam is a fantastic player who needs backing as he is an exceptional talent. He’s the best man to occupy the #4 slot like Kohli does in tests.

Test match cricket is difficult for a dynamic batsman like Babar to settle into quickly. It was difficult for Kohli as well who only averaged 22 in his first year of test cricket.
 
kingusama92 said:
A person's knowledge of Test cricket and player development starts to show with such threads.

After 9 Tests

Babar Azam: 27.25 AVG

Hashim Amla: 22.47
Jacques Kallis: 23.21
Steve Smith 29.00

Viv Richards: 30.30
Younis Khan: 31.00
Inzamam Ul Haq: 31.84
VVS Laxman: 32.00
Kumar Sangakkara: 33.31

I'm guessing you'd kick these guys to the curb too? :))
Click to expand...

Dont think Kohli had a cracking start to his test career either
 
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