Is Babar Azam cut out for Test cricket?

[Madplayer]

He will come good in second innings. Just wait and watch.

Look who is proven right yet again.

 

[AAli98]

If the benchmark is scoring against aussie reserves on a road then he is cut out for test cricket..

 

[Amjid Javed]

The test series vs kiwis and S.A will show whether babars going to improve or not, this inns here today has just saved him from the drop.

 

[Ahmed216]

The test series vs kiwis and S.A will show whether babars going to improve or not, this inns here today has just saved him from the drop.

No brother i dont they wud hve dropped him had he failed in this innings. Pakistan think tank considers him to be future leader of bak batting. They rate him very highly.

 

[Amjid Javed]

No brother i dont they wud hve dropped him had he failed in this innings. Pakistan think tank considers him to be future leader of bak batting. They rate him very highly.

Not doubting hes highly rated talent, he always has been since a young age. Regardless of that you are judged on scoring runs against all teams, not just milking minnow sides,

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

If the benchmark is scoring against aussie reserves on a road then he is cut out for test cricket..

And there it is, damned if you do and damned if you don't. If he had failed, he can't score on "roads", now that he's scored it doesn't count because it's Austrailia.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

I told ya guys to be patient. Not all players blossom instantly. No need to compare Babar to Kohli, he should be given chance to prove himself. He has earned the right. Selector aren't putting faith in Babar for no reason.

 

[Ahmed216]

Not doubting hes highly rated talent, he always has been since a young age. Regardless of that you are judged on scoring runs against all teams, not just milking minnow sides,

My point was they wudnt have dropped him even after a failure in this innings.Not how good or bad he is. Although i think people are too quick to judge. Many good players in the past have has average starts to their careers. Innings he played in Lords was very good before retiring hurt. He was set for a hundred that day i think. Also Pak doesnt have great batting reserves

 

[mak36]

Out on 99. Pity.

 

[Boi]

Turning out to be a massive mental midget. Can’t even handle the pressure of being on 99.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Sad...he deserved a ton.

 

[Ahson8]

Pity he didn’t get the 100 but still, this innings has come a ton just the right time. Hopefully pushes on from here

 

[Amjid Javed]

Can help but laugh as hes out for 99, slowed down scoring nearing ton. if he had played normally probably would have got there, poor mental weakness and selfish play, got what it deserved.

 

[MenInG]

Sad to see him miss his hundred but I'd rather take his 99 than a duck

 

[babajee]

Can help but laugh as hes out for 99, slowed down scoring nearing ton. if he had played normally probably would have got there, poor mental weakness and selfish play, got what it deserved.

So when he scores runs there's a problem and when he doesn't there's a problem too

 

[Markhor]

Like Sarfraz's 94 in the 1st innings, this was a career saving knock for Babar.

However it's one thing piling up runs in the 2nd innings with a 297 run lead on the board when you come out to the crease - we need Babar to perform when the pressure is on and the expectations are for him to contribute to a big 1st innings total.

 

[Titan24]

Babar played well but his innings in the 1st test against Eng in Eng stands out to me. Showed how good he can be and we won that match as well.

My prediction that his 1st century is coming against NZ in the coming test series.

 

[theariezman]

If the benchmark is scoring against aussie reserves on a road then he is cut out for test cricket..

what a rubbish logic...going by this logic meaning whoever scores century or double century against Pakistan doesn't count at all

 

[Titan24]

Babar needs to mentally free himself, he just restricts himself too much.

His weak points are when he starts the innings (ducks he has got in tests are just an example) and when he reaches a milestone. This sometimes makes Pak lose two quick wickets in ODIs as well.

If he can mentally become stronger than he can be an atg, but changing mental state is not at all an easy task.

 

[Finisher]

If the benchmark is scoring against aussie reserves on a road then he is cut out for test cricket..

Yeah sure Starc-Siddle-Lyon are reserve bowlers

 

[Khan12]

Yeah sure Starc-Siddle-Lyon are reserve bowlers

Warne and McGrath are not here so it is their reserve bowlers.

 

[Amjid Javed]

So when he scores runs there's a problem and when he doesn't there's a problem too

Its about just playing natural game and using game intelligence, something he didnt use here. He added pressure to himself going into his shell.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Pakistani batsmen out for 99 in Test cricket:<br><br>Maqsood Ahmed<br>Majid Khan<br>Mushtaq Mohmmad<br>Javed Miandad<br>Salim Malik (twice)<br>Aamir Sohail<br>Inzamam-ul-Haq<br>Asim Kamal<br>Misbah-ul-Haq (twice)<br>Babar Azam<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1052890848147529728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Amjid Javed]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Pakistani batsmen out for 99 in Test cricket:<br><br>Maqsood Ahmed<br>Majid Khan<br>Mushtaq Mohmmad<br>Javed Miandad<br>Salim Malik (twice)<br>Aamir Sohail<br>Inzamam-ul-Haq<br>Asim Kamal<br>Misbah-ul-Haq (twice)<br>Babar Azam<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1052890848147529728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Out of those players was Asim kamal the only one not to make a test hundred in his career?

 

[hadi123]

I know that this was a relatively low pressure situation but this innings will give him confidence ahead of the upcoming series.

 

[Abdullah719]

Out of those players was Asim kamal the only one not to make a test hundred in his career?

Maqsood Ahmed too.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Maqsood Ahmed too.

Unlucky

On side note i think Shane warne was another player with a test score of 99 as his highest.

 

[Bilal7]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">Pakistani batsmen out for 99 in Test cricket:<br><br>Maqsood Ahmed<br>Majid Khan<br>Mushtaq Mohmmad<br>Javed Miandad<br>Salim Malik (twice)<br>Aamir Sohail<br>Inzamam-ul-Haq<br>Asim Kamal<br>Misbah-ul-Haq (twice)<br>Babar Azam<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1052890848147529728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Bunch of mental midgets in there. Right, guys?

 

[mastersaan10]

Baba still not ready for test cricket. One innings in 50 and that too you choke on 99 shows he doesn't have the mental fortitude for test. It's the selections like Babar in test that fans don't like cricket. Give players who are deserving like fakhar a chance rather than cross format players. If fakhar had been playing all these tests, he would have contributed 4x as much as Babar.

 

[ind_win]

It was a good effort but I think it was selfish and rude to go for a review even without asking for your partner's nod at the other end much less of your Captain, when he is there.

Anyway, he is bound to improve.

 

[srh]

Yes, he is cut out for test. He needs to bat with patience in test format. 1 big hundred will help him a lot.

wow amazing insight; I personally believe he is more of a test batsman than ODIs and T20Is. If Pakistan stops him for playing T20s at least for good then he will become a better test batsman.

 

[srh]

Can help but laugh as hes out for 99, slowed down scoring nearing ton. if he had played normally probably would have got there, poor mental weakness and selfish play, got what it deserved.

his selfish play is well documented but there is nothing PCB can do to fix it, its part of his makeup

 

[Bilal7]

his selfish play is well documented but there is nothing PCB can do to fix it, its part of his makeup

Every batsman is selfish. Self-preservation is the name of the game otherwise you end up with Shahid Afridi.

 

[TeamPak95]

I'm learning so much from these experts.

Babar fails: "he's not cut out for test cricket, his Akmal-like attitude is starting to show, he's not a proper bat, he's mentally weak, ..."

Babar scores: "selfish innings, he's playing too slow, Khalil Bradman Tendulkar III from Gaggu Mandi is a better prospect, give him chance he's very tailunted,..."

 

[CricketDon]

One good innings every 20 innings ain’t good enough

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

It was a good effort but I think it was selfish and rude to go for a review even without asking for your partner's nod at the other end much less of your Captain, when he is there.

Anyway, he is bound to improve.

I noticed that too.

At least he should have consulted his captain at the other end.

He needs to lose this mentality of putting himself above the team.

He's ranked very highly in ODIs but I don't think that gives the full picture. He was excellent when he first came on the scene, but has slowed down a lot.

Still, as others have said repeatedly, he's young and hopefully will get better and better and once he feels secure in himself and his place in the team, he'll play more aggressively when it's required.

 

[Savak]

I don't care whether Babar scores 90, have seen enough of him that he is an on top player and crumbles under pressure.

 

[srh]

I noticed that too.

At least he should have consulted his captain at the other end.

He needs to lose this mentality of putting himself above the team.

He's ranked very highly in ODIs but I don't think that gives the full picture. He was excellent when he first came on the scene, but has slowed down a lot.

Still, as others have said repeatedly, he's young and hopefully will get better and better and once he feels secure in himself and his place in the team, he'll play more aggressively when it's required.

this is wishful thinking; people cannot just change their natural habits; its very rare and unheard of for people to change their natural habits; he is how he he has been brought up

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Can help but laugh as hes out for 99, slowed down scoring nearing ton. if he had played normally probably would have got there, poor mental weakness and selfish play, got what it deserved.

He puts this pressure on himself, I've seen in ODI's he also starts playing more cautiously when he's approaching a milestone, often at the expense of the team score. For that reason I feel it serves him right to get out on 99, he needs to lose the selfish streak and the hundreds will come by themselves.

He's the best Pakistani batsman by a distance technically, but he needs to become a team player.

 

[Third Man]

In all this noise, everyone's forgetting or maybe didn't notice what a beautiful innings this was, and I mean aesthetically, some of his shots were just calssy.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

this is wishful thinking; people cannot just change their natural habits; its very rare and unheard of for people to change their natural habits; he is how he he has been brought up

I don't think it's about "natural habits". It's about being told that you should continue to play your natural game when you approach a milestone. Hurting the team for your milestone is not acceptable, at least not to the extent that he tends to do it.

Aside from that, cricket is full of changing habits. Lazy fielding, technical flaws in bowling and batting and catching, etc.

Guys like Waugh cut out their "natural habit" of pulling short balls. He kept getting out, so he broke that habit.

 

[Fahdi]

I don't get some people. Getting nervous and selfish near a milestone is the most natural and common thing. I have seen legends of the game go into their shell or falter in their stroke play when faced with such a situation. Has nobody seen how the fielders all come in close whenever a batsman nears a hundred? This is what Australia did here and this is what every single captain does in the world. When a batsman nears a hundred it plays on his mind, he doesn't want to get out at this stage. Captains take advantage of this mindset and stop the singles to try and force a mistake. Misbah would get stuck in the 90s, Dhoni built pressure on Clarke in this way for a couple of overs and almost induced a false shot, I have seen Tendulker and Lara falter in the 90s. Younis Khan was one of the best at dealing with the nervous 90s, he'd back himself to play his shots and won't let the pressure built but even he got himself runout at 199. This is test cricket people with 2 days left to play, taking 10 deliveries extra to get to a milestone doesn't matter in the scope of the match. LOIs is an entirely different matter.

 

[Khan12]

In all this noise, everyone's forgetting or maybe didn't notice what a beautiful innings this was, and I mean aesthetically, some of his shots were just calssy.

This played some beautiful shots. Plus another positive thing is that he seem to be working on the sweep shot.

 

[Hasan123]

Will keep him in the side for the next series. Hopefully he can kick on now. Would have always played him in the NZ test series anyway but now he has some confidence going into that series.

 

[Saj]

I want to see these guys scoring runs when the team really needs them - coming in at 50/4 on a tough track and then making a century.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Lol, we just can't appreciate the talent he is. The shots he played were of the highest quality. Even Border was in awe.

 

[nitrous]

Lol, we just can't appreciate the talent he is. The shots he played were of the highest quality. Even Border was in awe.

So why cant he play the exact same way, when the pressure is on?

 

[babajee]

So why cant he play the exact same way, when the pressure is on?

It's a blessing he didn't get that hundred today. He'll score a big one when we need it most... just wait

 

[Chief Destroyer]

So why cant he play the exact same way, when the pressure is on?

He's already scored plenty under pressure.

 

[Zaz]

28 Test innings and 0 hundreds

6 Test fifties, 3 of which are against Windies and 1 against Ireland.

A Test average of only 27 which frankly is pathetic.

It’s poor but not pathetic I could understand the comment if the lad had been around for years and played for pakistan 30-40 times but he hasn’t That average could change significantly on the back of a handful of good innings so there’s no need to write h8m off yet

 

[Amjid Javed]

It’s poor but not pathetic I could understand the comment if the lad had been around for years and played for pakistan 30-40 times but he hasn’t That average could change significantly on the back of a handful of good innings so there’s no need to write h8m off yet

Who are those good inns going to come against poor sides or good ones? Hes been pretty mediocre so far overall and wilted under pressure more often then not.

 

[Saj]

It’s poor but not pathetic I could understand the comment if the lad had been around for years and played for pakistan 30-40 times but he hasn’t That average could change significantly on the back of a handful of good innings so there’s no need to write h8m off yet

Not writing him off and after 28 innings an average of 27 is pathetic for a top order batsman in my opinion.

 

[Savak]

I want to see these guys scoring runs when the team really needs them - coming in at 50/4 on a tough track and then making a century.

Let's be honest, how many players around the world consistently do this in tough situations and on tough wickets? I last saw Michael Clarke do it against Steyn in 2013

 

[Saj]

Let's be honest, how many players around the world consistently do this in tough situations and on tough wickets? I last saw Michael Clarke do it against Steyn in 2013

I'd like to see Pakistani batsmen start doing it. This expplains why we are 7th in the rankings.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Let's be honest, how many players around the world consistently do this in tough situations and on tough wickets? I last saw Michael Clarke do it against Steyn in 2013

Had tough situation 1st inns, yes not a tough wicket. But what a stupid shot to play when teams in trouble.

 

[Bilal7]

Not writing him off and after 28 Tests an average of 27 is pathetic for a top order batsman in my opinion.

Give him time, he'll come good eventually, InshAllah, just like several other great players who had poor starts.

 

[Third Man]

Give him time, he'll come good eventually, InshAllah, just like several other great players who had poor starts.

Agree fully. Anyone who saw today's innings should see that this guy is class. It's just a matter of time before he becomes one of the best test batters in the world.

 

[Zaz]

Not writing him off and after 28 innings an average of 27 is pathetic for a top order batsman in my opinion.

I disagree He’s not a world away from averaging in his 40s He’s only 3-4 good knocks away It’s still early days in his test career

In context of he’s a 23 year old with a great Odi record from a country that doesn’t produce very promising batsmen Surely the right thing is being done giving him time

 

[mastersaan10]

Lol at everyone. Just when some pressure was on him, Babar slowed down and ultimately gave his wicket away. People called amla a choker but Babar is alot worse than him. Mark my words he will never contribute in big games.

 

[Abdullah]

I'm not sure what I'm reading here. His 90 at Hamilton and 72 at lord's are 2 of the best overseas innings by a Pakistani n the last 2 years. Yes there is a lot of dross in amongst that but those innings give me immense hope. I do think he will be better in places where the ball comes on.
And the 2 innings I mentioned were clean and when the game was alive

 

[Darkrai]

Lol at everyone. Just when some pressure was on him, Babar slowed down and ultimately gave his wicket away. People called amla a choker but Babar is alot worse than him. Mark my words he will never contribute in big games.

Too bad for you he already did contribute in big games.

 

[mastersaan10]

Not really, failed in every game against India. Failed in champion trophy.

 

[waleed88]

I'm not sure what I'm reading here. His 90 at Hamilton and 72 at lord's are 2 of the best overseas innings by a Pakistani n the last 2 years. Yes there is a lot of dross in amongst that but those innings give me immense hope. I do think he will be better in places where the ball comes on.
And the 2 innings I mentioned were clean and when the game was alive

)

Forgetting the Younis Khan scored a double century vs England at the Oval... Azhar Ali scored a double century vs Australia, Asad Shafiq's last ditch effort to save a test match against Aus in Brisbane 140 odd.. and many more I can't remember right now.... Azhar's ali century against the Windies in the final test match )

In the same match Sami Aslam scored a better 90 in the 4th innings of the same test match, where everyone collapsed and we lost just 10 overs before the close of play... so it wasn't the best knock by the Pakistani even in the test match

 

[waleed88]

Babar azam played this knock in the least pressured situation, even if you minus his 100 runs we still have a sizeable total which has only ever been chased once in the entire history of test match cricket...

But kudos to him for saving his position

 

[Darkrai]

Not really, failed in every game against India. Failed in champion trophy.

So only India and CT are the big games?

I guess this 99 doesn't count. 90* in NZ when all our batsmen failed (he was even praised by NZ cricketers) doesn't count. His matching winning inning in England doesn't count.

"mark my words he will never contribute in big games"...i'm sorry but that's just a dumb statement.

 

[Xoib]

He has been givin a free ride for two years he has to have one big series or time to look for next option

 

[giri26]

Good that he scored 99 yesterday but again he needs to contribute consistently. If you are top player, you don't have to go months and years to find another good performance. Babar has 2 or 3 good Test scores but they are long time apart.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

)

Forgetting the Younis Khan scored a double century vs England at the Oval... Azhar Ali scored a double century vs Australia, Asad Shafiq's last ditch effort to save a test match against Aus in Brisbane 140 odd.. and many more I can't remember right now.... Azhar's ali century against the Windies in the final test match )

In the same match Sami Aslam scored a better 90 in the 4th innings of the same test match, where everyone collapsed and we lost just 10 overs before the close of play... so it wasn't the best knock by the Pakistani even in the test match

Couldn't be more incorrect. Conditions had eased out by the 4th innings whereas Babar carried Pakistan from 5-51 on a lawn. He showed why he is technically superior to everyone in the lineup.

 

[Mansoor3120]

Babar Azam last 6 test innings
57 ( run out ) against Irland
68 ( retired hurt) against England
7 ( again run out ) against Australia
22+ ( not out )
0
99

so only 1 one failure after that 57 against Irland

 

[Darkrai]

Babar Azam last 6 test innings
57 ( run out ) against Irland
68 ( retired hurt) against England
7 ( again run out ) against Australia
22+ ( not out )
0
99

so only 1 one failure after that 57 against Irland

He averages 54 this year but 1 failure is enough for people to start crying and yelling.

 

[Madplayer]

Babar Azam last 6 test innings
57 ( run out ) against Irland
68 ( retired hurt) against England
7 ( again run out ) against Australia
22+ ( not out )
0
99

so only 1 one failure after that 57 against Irland

Well done sir. An eye opening stat for some fickle fans.

 

[waleed88]

Couldn't be more incorrect. Conditions had eased out by the 4th innings whereas Babar carried Pakistan from 5-51 on a lawn. He showed why he is technically superior to everyone in the lineup.

Well it eased up on the 2nd and 3rd day where new zealand scored 350 at a strike rate of 4 an over... even Sohail Khan scored a 50 on that pitch... technically superior but a mental midget will always fail in tough conditions... I don't care about a knock scored 2 years ago when the player has had a run of straight matches without performance... 15 innings without crossing the 20 run mark is a shameful stat whichever conditions you played in..

throw this guy at the no.3 spot and watch him start a similar streak again.

 

[bujhee kom]

Not writing him off and after 28 innings an average of 27 is pathetic for a top order batsman in my opinion.

It is absolutely pathetic.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Have patience guys. He is our best batsman it's just matter of one and he will become backbone of our middle order.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Well it eased up on the 2nd and 3rd day where new zealand scored 350 at a strike rate of 4 an over... even Sohail Khan scored a 50 on that pitch... technically superior but a mental midget will always fail in tough conditions... I don't care about a knock scored 2 years ago when the player has had a run of straight matches without performance... 15 innings without crossing the 20 run mark is a shameful stat whichever conditions you played in..

throw this guy at the no.3 spot and watch him start a similar streak again.

I don't care about the other gibberish you wrote, just correcting the misinformation you're spreading.

 

[mak36]

I don't care about the other gibberish you wrote, just correcting the misinformation you're spreading.

This series has been a difficult one for those who doubted Sarfaraz, Haris and Babar.

 

[Fahdi]

Babar Azam last 6 test innings
57 ( run out ) against Irland
68 ( retired hurt) against England
7 ( again run out ) against Australia
22+ ( not out )
0
99

so only 1 one failure after that 57 against Irland

Not to mention Sarfraz almost ran him out this innings as well

He needs special lessons on running. Gets run out far too often.

 

[wrongun]

At this stage, he's justified his position, but not fulfilled the hype.

Until he starts kicking in regular tons he won't be a serious Test batsman. Not saying he can't do that, but it needs to happen soon. Steve Waugh had a pretty slow start to Tests- but he was picked as a bowling allrounder initially. Babar doesn't have that luxury.

 

[mak36]

At this stage, he's justified his position, but not fulfilled the hype.

Until he starts kicking in regular tons he won't be a serious Test batsman. Not saying he can't do that, but it needs to happen soon. Steve Waugh had a pretty slow start to Tests- but he was picked as a bowling allrounder initially. Babar doesn't have that luxury.

Gatting, Yousuf are two more examples of slow starters.

 

[topspin]

The Aus series and his non existent conversions of half centuries is the reason why he only averages 30 but he is a key batsman now especially outside Asia, where I feel he thrives with more pace on the ball.