Is Babar Azam now part of the Fab 5?

[daytrader]

That was straight from Simon Doull's heart. He is talking about Babar in a Eng vs NZ test.

I think he has dropped Kohli/Smith from his big 4. Many fans won't like that. Not too long ago fans were comparing Babar with KL Rahul but Babar is in a different league now.

True, Babar is a once in a generation player. KL is not even in talks of being a fab

 

[Farabi]

That was straight from Simon Doull's heart. He is talking about Babar in a Eng vs NZ test.

I think he has dropped Kohli/Smith from his big 4. Many fans won't like that. Not too long ago fans were comparing Babar with KL Rahul but Babar is in a different league now.

Babar can’t be compared to big 4 because he debuted at least 5 years after each of them did.

Yet, Babar is still compared to them. This shows how good Babar really is, because his contemporaries like KL Rahul or Marnus are not even mentioned as breaking into Fab 4.
The new crop (2016 onwards) is establishing itself and of-course some are quality players but none have matured enough to join Babar to form a new block like the new Fab 2 or Fab 3, and Fab 4.

It’s surprising to see comparisons with Pant. Babar is in a different league.
Pant is establishing himself in ODI and T20 teams while Babar is the best in the world for ODI and probably top 3-4 in T20s.
In test cricket, a discussion can be had, but Babar is still ahead with a superior average than Pant’s. Both have played a couple of memorable knocks and Babar did well in Aus too but Pak team chocked in Aus.

It’s naive to hype players on 1-2 memorable knocks. Kamran Akmal once scored a world class century against India in 2005-6 test series in a series decider and pressure game. He walked in when Pakistan was 0-3 and helped Pak get to a total from where Pak actually ended up beating India.
I still remember how excited everybody was about Kamran at the time, but we can see where he is now.
So yes Pant played an exceptional innings in Aus, but that’s really all he’s shown so far. He’s can be anything from here.

 

[Ab Fan]

Pant has played numerous great knocks and it is not just in Australia. It is like saying Babar has scored prolifically only vs West Indies in LOIs or Buttler has scored vs Netherland mostly.

His 100 vs South Africa was an iconic one too, he came to bat 40/3 and hit a century while his team was all out at 190.

His 100 vs England at home in a decider.

114 in England

The iconic knock in pink ball test vs SL

And three great knocks in Australia too.

 

[Farabi]

Pant has played numerous great knocks and it is not just in Australia. It is like saying Babar has scored prolifically only vs West Indies in LOIs or Buttler has scored vs Netherland mostly.

His 100 vs South Africa was an iconic one too, he came to bat 40/3 and hit a century while his team was all out at 190.

His 100 vs England at home in a decider.

114 in England

The iconic knock in pink ball test vs SL

And three great knocks in Australia too.

Yes, I agree Pant is very talented and like I said, they can be compared in tests, but at the minute I’d still rate Babar > Pant, and we can circle back on this in 5 years.

Obviously Pant has played for a much stronger test team so the runs are going to feel more impactful when the team is winning.

There are several such knocks Babar has played such as the knock recently scoring almost a double century to single handedly save a test match vs Aus. It’s not Babar’s fault how bad Pak test team recently has been and Pak bowling can’t seem to get Aussies out.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Yes, I agree Pant is very talented and like I said, they can be compared in tests, but at the minute I’d still rate Babar > Pant, and we can circle back on this in 5 years.

Obviously Pant has played for a much stronger test team so the runs are going to feel more impactful when the team is winning.

There are several such knocks Babar has played such as the knock recently scoring almost a double century to single handedly save a test match vs Aus. It’s not Babar’s fault how bad Pak test team recently has been and Pak bowling can’t seem to get Aussies out.

Frankly speaking this same logic can be applied to Sachin as well but then these fans will start hiding their faces. The amount of hate and jealousy Babar is getting now reminds me of Sachin Tendulkar which is surely not a bad thing for Pakistan. Pakistan has got a special player in Babar and Indian fans try too hard to bring him down these days. These same fans will go on and on about Pant, will call him best cricketer in the world even though he has nothing to show in LOIs.

 

[Moeey]

Babar can’t be compared to big 4 because he debuted at least 5 years after each of them did.

Yet, Babar is still compared to them. This shows how good Babar really is, because his contemporaries like KL Rahul or Marnus are not even mentioned as breaking into Fab 4.
The new crop (2016 onwards) is establishing itself and of-course some are quality players but none have matured enough to join Babar to form a new block like the new Fab 2 or Fab 3, and Fab 4.

It’s surprising to see comparisons with Pant. Babar is in a different league.
Pant is establishing himself in ODI and T20 teams while Babar is the best in the world for ODI and probably top 3-4 in T20s.
In test cricket, a discussion can be had, but Babar is still ahead with a superior average than Pant’s. Both have played a couple of memorable knocks and Babar did well in Aus too but Pak team chocked in Aus.

It’s naive to hype players on 1-2 memorable knocks. Kamran Akmal once scored a world class century against India in 2005-6 test series in a series decider and pressure game. He walked in when Pakistan was 0-3 and helped Pak get to a total from where Pak actually ended up beating India.
I still remember how excited everybody was about Kamran at the time, but we can see where he is now.
So yes Pant played an exceptional innings in Aus, but that’s really all he’s shown so far. He’s can be anything from here.

It's an insult to compare babar with KL rahul who is very Inconsistent.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Yes, with the grand total of SENA Test Hundred = 1

 

[Moeey]

Yes, with the grand total of SENA Test Hundred = 1

average dekho. not meaningless 100s that dont result in wins. kohli has plenty of meaningless 100s which never helped his team win a game in sena.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

average dekho. not meaningless 100s that dont result in wins. kohli has plenty of meaningless 100s which never helped his team win a game in sena.

His Meaning less average also don't results in wins

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

"They Talk About Big Four, He Is The Big One": Former New Zealand Pacer On Pakistan Captain Babar Azam

Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull praised Babar Azam, calling him the "big one" during commentary on Day 3 of the 3rd Test between England and New Zealand.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is having a year to remember as he has truly come into his own, and in the last three-match ODI series against West Indies, he went on to register 181 runs, including one century and one half-century. In the first ODI, he had played a knock of 103 runs to help Pakistan chase down more than 300 runs. Babar's name was discussed during commentary on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test between England and New Zealand, and former Kiwi pacer Simon Doull went on to label him as "the big one".

The clip of Doull praising Babar has now gone viral on social media with many fans showing their liking to what was said about Babar.

Doull had talked about Babar during New Zealand's second innings with the BlackCaps score being 42/1 in 13.3 overs.

"Not many can argue that Babar Azam is probably the best player in the world at the moment, as far as batting in that top-order is concerned. He is unbelievable, Joe Root has got an argument for that. But I mean, Babar is, they talk about big four, at the moment he is the big one," said Doull while commentating on the game for Sky Sports.

The big four is generally a term used to describe Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, arguably the best batters across formats in the world.

Babar is currently at the top spot in ODI and T20I Rankings while he is in the fourth spot in the Test rankings.

On the other hand, Kohli is yet to register an international century since November 2019. He had last scored a century against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens.

Babar Azam will next be seen in action against Sri Lanka in a Test series, beginning July this year.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/the...-doull-on-pakistan-captain-babar-azam-3101499

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

No, fab four are from a different era and they are called fab 4 bcoz of their career achievements and not just current form.

Babar is class, but from a different era and as Doull says he is ahead of all his contemporaries.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yes, with the grand total of SENA Test Hundred = 1

SENA test hundreds :-

Pant - 3
Rahul - 3
Blundell - 2
Babar - 1

 

[Cover Drive Six]

SENA test hundreds :-

Pant - 3
Rahul - 3
Blundell - 2
Babar - 1

Pant 4

 

[jnaveen1980]

Fab 4 disbanded lol There is only one batsman Root who is in scintillating form. Smith can go on for an year or two. Time for other 2 to hang their boots. IPL, T20I, ODI, Tests i don't think Kohli has it in him to handle everything.

 

[Moeey]

His Meaning less average also don't results in wins

And how many of those hundreds led to wins for the great kphli?
Babar is on another level.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

And how many of those hundreds led to wins for the great kphli?
Babar is on another level.

How many tests Babar won in SENA with great average?
ZERO.
Pant is much better than Babar in Tests.

 

[Moeey]

How many tests Babar won in SENA with great average?
ZERO.
Pant is much better than Babar in Tests.

Not talking about pant. Talking about kohli. Babar is better than kohli. Look at pants average in s Africa and new zeland and England. You will surprise yourself. Rizwan has a better record.

 

[Shafi]

Babar is still average player in test. Still long way to go.

 

[Moeey]

Babar is still average player in test. Still long way to go.

How is he average? 45 average.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Not talking about pant. Talking about kohli. Babar is better than kohli. Look at pants average in s Africa and new zeland and England. You will surprise yourself. Rizwan has a better record.

I am asking again, how many SENA tests Babar own with that great average you claiming?
Answer is Zero.

 

[Moeey]

I am asking again, how many SENA tests Babar own with that great average you claiming?
Answer is Zero.

Lol why is 100s so important. It's not the metric. Babar is better now. That's that.

 

[Hitman]

Lol why is 100s so important. It's not the metric. Babar is better now. That's that.

He was speaking about Babar's average, not his hundreds. Why are you putting words in his mouth?

 

[Ab Fan]

If Babar is a Fab 5, then we have a Fab 6 now.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Nobody else can be part of Fab 4, the term was coined by the late Martin Crowe. I personally don't think Willimason deserves to be mentioned alongside the other 3 anymore. Regardless, Fab 4 is immutable regardless of form.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

The way he's going and the way KW and Vk especially are going, its not gonna be fab 4 any more. BA is special to watch, wonderfully easy on the eye and a treat to behold.
he's got age in front of him. No reason why he cant emulate the other 4

 

[PakPremi]

To be in Fab 5 you have to be pretty decent in both Tests and white ball internationals. Babar certainly is, whilst excelling in ODIs.

 

[Sunzi]

Fab 4? Tons? SENA?

Aren't 16 of Roots tons at Home? Technically the 'E' in SENA... and then he has the grant total of 0 in Aus, 1 in NZ and 1 in SA in a significantly longer test career than Fab 5 faker, Babar? Hmmm...

Of course I don't doubt Root's credentials lol, likewise it's plain to see Babar's quality.

 

[Protea Fan]

Fab 4? Tons? SENA?

Aren't 16 of Roots tons at Home? Technically the 'E' in SENA... and then he has the grant total of 0 in Aus, 1 in NZ and 1 in SA in a significantly longer test career than Fab 5 faker, Babar? Hmmm...

Of course I don't doubt Root's credentials lol, likewise it's plain to see Babar's quality.

SENA is mentioned in babars case because he is from asia

So weightage of runs and hundreds in SENA countries matters for him

Thats not the case with Root,runs in asia adding the weightage to his legacy and rightly so he had hundreds and double hundreds in india and srilanka

 

[Sunzi]

SENA is mentioned in babars case because he is from asia

So weightage of runs and hundreds in SENA countries matters for him

Thats not the case with Root,runs in asia adding the weightage to his legacy and rightly so he had hundreds and double hundreds in india and srilanka

Yes, I get the logic - as I said, I don't doubt Root's credentials. If I so wanted to try and find/make a point, I could reference the lack of a ton in 14 tests in Aus etc. Decent sample size blah, blah irrespective of the weighting value of SC runs. Stands to reason that this ATG bat isn't particularly good in Aus - yet is regarded as fabulous. Is he really?

Of course he is... but he still ain't got a ton in Aus - in 14 attempts (well 27 really).

 

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi on BA:

"Babar Azam has not yet proved himself as a match-winner. No doubt Babar is the number one player in the world, and he is the pride of the Pakistan cricket team, but one thing that stops him from being named aside AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli is finishing. I want Babar to finish the game all by himself"

 

[Mamoon]

Shahid Afridi on BA:

"Babar Azam has not yet proved himself as a match-winner. No doubt Babar is the number one player in the world, and he is the pride of the Pakistan cricket team, but one thing that stops him from being named aside AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli is finishing. I want Babar to finish the game all by himself"

Afridi: Babar is the number one player in the world
Also Afridi: Babar is not a match-winner

How can you be the number one player in the world without being a match-winner? Just Afridi gems.

 

[Mamoon]

The reality is that Babar never was and never will be as good as Kohli, Smith and Root. He is on par with Williamson.

He is also not as good as the new generation top batsmen like Gill and Brook. I’m sure Brevis is better than him too.

Pakistani fans should be happy with the fact that Babar is a really good batsman in his own right. There is no point in making him something he is not.

Pakistan is the least talented cricket nation ever with an embarrassing batting culture and legacy. The fact that we have produced someone like Babar is a miracle because you are used to a lot worse.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He is not fab anything. One guy has over 70 odd international hundreds. One guy is averaging close to 60. One guy has impressive record in all the countries over a period. One guy has just become the highest run getter for his country in history. All of them are more versatile than Babar has ever shown atleast at some point of their career if not presently. Babar lacks a lot of IT factors to be in any kind of club right now.

 

[Firebat]

His stock has dropped massively over the last couple of years. He's 28 now, in his prime, yet has stagnated and not gone on to hit the heights of the other fab 4 in Test cricket.

 

[LegendAli]

The reality is that Babar never was and never will be as good as Kohli, Smith and Root. He is on par with Williamson.

He is also not as good as the new generation top batsmen like Gill and Brook. I’m sure Brevis is better than him too.

Pakistani fans should be happy with the fact that Babar is a really good batsman in his own right. There is no point in making him something he is not.

Pakistan is the least talented cricket nation ever with an embarrassing batting culture and legacy. The fact that we have produced someone like Babar is a miracle because you are used to a lot worse.

What a slap in the face to Williamson.

Babar can only dream of scoring a century in similar fashion to what Williamson did a few days ago.

Expected better from you of all people.

 

[Mamoon]

What a slap in the face to Williamson.

Babar can only dream of scoring a century in similar fashion to what Williamson did a few days ago.

Expected better from you of all people.

Williamson has a very mediocre record in almost every major venue. He is massively overrated. Babar does not need to do much to be on par with him as a batsman.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Presenting the FAB 5

 

[TeymurBlake]

One test hundred away from home???

Not good enough.

 

[jnaveen1980]

This is Babar's PR teams' work.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bad day for Fab 5th

 

[Sachin fan]

Presenting the FAB 5

Pretty sure fab 4 term was just for tests, not ODIs. Apart from Kohli, none of them are amongst the greatest in ODIs

 

[Ab Fan]

In Tests, there is Fab 4.

In ODIs, there was only Fab 1 - Kohli. Alongside him, there is Rohit Sharma and a level below them, you have Babar Azam and Travis Head. Kane Williamson had a full fledged career too and is a better odi player than Joe Root and Steve Smith.

 

[saimayubera]

In Tests, there is Fab 4.

In ODIs, there was only Fab 1 - Kohli. Alongside him, there is Rohit Sharma and a level below them, you have Babar Azam and Travis Head. Kane Williamson had a full fledged career too and is a better odi player than Joe Root and Steve Smith.

Lol no Babar. Warner, Williamson, Root are all better.

Babar is a KL level player at best with inflated records due to statpadding against minnows and B/C teams during IPL.

 

[Mesozoic]

Lol no Babar. Warner, Williamson, Root are all better.

Babar is a KL level player at best with inflated records due to statpadding against minnows and B/C teams during IPL.

I wouldn't even be that generous. KL has much more natural ability than Babar and has multiple match winning hundreds in SENA. It's his mindset that has held him back largely.. he always had much higher ceiling than Babar "i'm trying to hit but shottay nahi lag rhi" Azam.

You give KL thar freedom to statpad at no.3 in ODIs against garbage bowling attacks at SR of 80, and he would have had bradmanesque stats.

 

[saimayubera]

I wouldn't even be that generous. KL has much more natural ability than Babar and has multiple match winning hundreds in SENA. It's his mindset that has held him back largely.. he always had much higher ceiling than Babar "i'm trying to hit but shottay nahi lag rhi" Azam.

You give KL thar freedom to statpad at no.3 in ODIs against garbage bowling attacks at SR of 80, and he would have had bradmanesque stats.

tests kl is better.

odis i'd say same. although kl has not been an odi regular.

kl's ceiling is higher though yes.

 

[Pakistan150-0]

Most selfish cricketer on this planet

 

[Hitman]

Babar's innings yesterday reminded me of Kallis's innings in the SF of the 99' WC. For long, I considered that innings by Kallis the worst ever innings I ever saw in ODI cricket.

 

[Hikaru]

This is Babar's PR teams' work.

Honestly more impressed with his PR team than Babar himself. Imagine them being assigned the task of rebranding Pakistan Cricket, what a day it will be for PCB.