A hundred every 6 test is not the best record.
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Selfish batting of Babar Azam will not let him fulfill his potential
- Thread starter srh
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Was there 6 tests difference between Babar's last two hundreds?
Working out average return including his first 20 or so matches when he was not so good in test matches is pointless. Let him play 100 tests and then work out his average return as that would be a better sample, especially when actual home tests (not including UAE) are quite low.
Working out average return including his first 20 or so matches when he was not so good in test matches is pointless. Let him play 100 tests and then work out his average return as that would be a better sample, especially when actual home tests (not including UAE) are quite low.
Waleed93
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Typical over-reacting Pakistan fans.
Zaz
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At this stage in his career its not a concern
Most of the top players catch up with experience between 50 and 100 tests and i anticipate the same will happen with babar
Most of the top players catch up with experience between 50 and 100 tests and i anticipate the same will happen with babar
This criticism of Babar was valid earlier, when he wasn't scoring in tests.
But in the past year, he has been really consistent and scoring in every format.
He scored a 100 just last test....so this is undue criticism atm.
Amjid Javed
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So with Babar batting number 3 in tests is this where hes going to bat long term?
Amjid Javed
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im not criticizing his recent form, im just stating that elite players should be scoring 100s at a ratio of 1 to 3 or 4.
In regards to his dismissal today it was poor but so have most of our batting in this inns.
I did think it was an option and he should now continue batting at 3
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Rana
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He is one of the world’s best batsmen but he still has not developed a release shot to tackle spin turning away from him
How has he not yet developed the reverse and paddle sweep? Is he going to start playing them when he is 36?
Very few batters have such a varied toolbox that they can pull out or put away certain strokes after/for a long time period. Most have a comfort zone of certain key shots they rely on.
Attacking spin is a mindset and needs full commitment. Younis and Root do it wholeheartedly and don't worry about coming down track unless pitch has extra bounce. Sehwag, Clarke, Pujara have prefer to use feet to throw spinner off length for both boundary release and strike rotation. Only extremely high class batters like ABd and SRT have both attacking and strike rotating shot options in all 4 corners of ground
If Babar is not comfortable with fine sweeps better to avoid those areas behind wkt and stick to his strength. In any case one gap will always be at either deep extra cover or deep midwkt for him to target
pakistani pride
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He had a good start today but then like most of the times goes back to blocking. He was like 10 of 6. Should just kick on from their.
It seems as if he is taking a back seat to Rizwan and expecting him to score all the runs. Babar needs to step it up as ability-wise, he is our best batsman.
Zaz
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This sort of thing happens Hes a human not robot Im sure babar will be back at his free flowing self in the next game
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Illogical thread
Babar scores his runs at a good enough rate for me. Somebody has to play the anchor role (does not mean you bat slowly) as well and both Babar and Rizwan are doing that brilliantly at the moment. It is not bad if they score their runs at a SR of 130-140. Their job is to provide a good start which they do more often than not.
However, I do agree that Pak should look to score 55-75 runs within the first 6 overs of powerplay.
Our problem is we do not have a quality middle order who can capitalise on such starts or steady the innings in the event of both Babar and Rizwan getting out cheaply. (case in point 1st and 7th T20I vs England)
Before criticising Babar and Rizwan we need to look at the rest of our pathetic batting, most of them are pure hackers who bat the same way whether there are 8 overs or 8 balls remaining. This is just not acceptable at this level
Babar scores his runs at a good enough rate for me. Somebody has to play the anchor role (does not mean you bat slowly) as well and both Babar and Rizwan are doing that brilliantly at the moment. It is not bad if they score their runs at a SR of 130-140. Their job is to provide a good start which they do more often than not.
However, I do agree that Pak should look to score 55-75 runs within the first 6 overs of powerplay.
Our problem is we do not have a quality middle order who can capitalise on such starts or steady the innings in the event of both Babar and Rizwan getting out cheaply. (case in point 1st and 7th T20I vs England)
Before criticising Babar and Rizwan we need to look at the rest of our pathetic batting, most of them are pure hackers who bat the same way whether there are 8 overs or 8 balls remaining. This is just not acceptable at this level
75 runs of 6 overs no chance they will achieve this more realistic is 50-65 if we're lucky.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A real struggle for Babar Azam today:<br><br>79 off 114 balls<br>8 fours and 1 six, meaning that in the other 105 balls he faced he scored 41 runs<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvNZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1613220793202184224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Bewal Express
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A very difficult wicket with the hell turning square
Didn't seem so when Salman batted. Yeah it spun but it was nowhere near as difficult as Babar-Rizwan made it seem today.
You won't score if you don't even try.
Devadwal
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Today inning show that why Babar in his peak isn't even half of Virat Kohli's peak.
Bewal Express
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Maybe Salman batted well or it suited his game. I saw the game from the 24th over and Phillips was turning it square.
CadPakFan
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Still no excuse to be batting at a 55-65 SR for such a long prolonged period of time. Even in bowling-friendly conditions, batsmen like Babar are expected to bat at 75 SR minimum. It was just a poor show today from him
Bewal Express
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Yes and no. He saw his job as to win the game, and from that point view he failed but I haven't a PK wicket turn like that since I have been watching PK cricket
He should have showed more intent but I have never seen a pitch turn as much as this in Pakistan. Their part timers were spinning it a mile.
IMMY69
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Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
If you show intent and get out cheaply and the team folds quickly then everyone will blame him for his poor shot on a wicket turning square.
On such a wicket you take the innings as deep as you can but it doesn't help when no one else can cross 30
If you show intent and get out cheaply and the team folds quickly then everyone will blame him for his poor shot on a wicket turning square.
On such a wicket you take the innings as deep as you can but it doesn't help when no one else can cross 30
DeadlyVenom
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If you show intent early there is a chance of creating some momentum and putting the bowling side on the back foot.
Letting the RRR get to 7.5 means there is only result possible. It doesn't matter how deep you take the game.
Bewal Express
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Agreed. Babar needs to let go and just attack at times. At times he overthinks and forgets that he is amongst the elite players
charlie007
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Babar in his prime does what Dhoni past his prime did - take a single and let the other guy take all the risk. At least Dhoni hit out or get out in the last 2-3 overs, Babar still takes singles so he can remain not out, perhaps score a 100 if the tail somehow survives.
What would’ve happened if he had “taken it deep” ? RRR was touching 9rpo when he was batting.
IMMY69
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If we were one down then of course you take a different approach but when you're 2 down early and those before you were struggling to score, with the wicket being extremely difficult, then sometimes you have to adopt the "take it long" approach.
I honestly believe that had one other batsman in the top 5 had stayed with Babar then we could have gone a lot closer and maybe even pulled off a victory.
Babar Azam is currently the best one day and test batsman in the world. One glaring weakness he has is a lack of sweep shot due to which he struggles against spinners on spin friendly wickets. Someone needs to point this out to him. He is not a natural striker of the ball who can single handily win wickets. He is a consistent performer like Jacques Kallis or Rahul Dravid who needs others to play more impactful innings around him.
docteurmanish
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Best one day batsmen ? Sorry man but King Kohli outbats him . Tests , pant is the best batter . He is the best pak batsman for sure but does not seem to have a fifth gear . Time and again he comes across as slow for the modern game , he reminds me of the 90s batsmen . Solid but no flare .
W63L35
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It's funny/ironic/comical (take your pick) how opinions, biases, standards and people change over the years. I used to get called Misbah-Hater when I used to point out selfish and tuk battting by the best ODI anchor-batsman in the history of Pakistan cricket! 
The arguments given were;
Misbah anchors the innings.
Misbah stablizes the innings.
Misbah builds the artnerships.
Misbah walks in at 20/3.
Misbah steadies the ship.
Misbah best ODI batsman...
Misbah this ....
MIsbah that ....
Where as ..... it seems like now the public opion is ... that Babar intentionally bats slow to make the team lose so that every fan can criticize his captaincy. Never mind the fact that he has the best ODI Win/Loss ration as captain among all time Pakistani captain with 20+ matches as captains..
Selfish Babar has scored 50+ scores in 26 wins in 94 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 26.66% of the matches he played.
Unselfish Misbah has scored 50+ scores in 25 wins in 162 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 15.43% of the matches he played. Never mind the fact that Misbah had servcies of Saeed Ajmal - the ODI wizard in his team. Ajmal, Afridi and Umar Gul took 169, 156 & 114 wickets while playing with Misbah.
The arguments given were;
Misbah anchors the innings.
Misbah stablizes the innings.
Misbah builds the artnerships.
Misbah walks in at 20/3.
Misbah steadies the ship.
Misbah best ODI batsman...
Misbah this ....
MIsbah that ....
Where as ..... it seems like now the public opion is ... that Babar intentionally bats slow to make the team lose so that every fan can criticize his captaincy. Never mind the fact that he has the best ODI Win/Loss ration as captain among all time Pakistani captain with 20+ matches as captains..
Selfish Babar has scored 50+ scores in 26 wins in 94 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 26.66% of the matches he played.
Unselfish Misbah has scored 50+ scores in 25 wins in 162 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 15.43% of the matches he played. Never mind the fact that Misbah had servcies of Saeed Ajmal - the ODI wizard in his team. Ajmal, Afridi and Umar Gul took 169, 156 & 114 wickets while playing with Misbah.
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Aman
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Like Buffet said, he's not selfish. Just limited and not as good as his numbers suggest, he's done well to build a great record for himself but he doesn't score big runs against the top teams or in big chases consistently. He doesn't have the shots to go through the gears. He's got like 3 gears when most elite batsmen and great ODI players today have 4 or 5. Can get away with 3 gears if you have hitters around you, when you don't you get this.
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Aman
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I'm a critic of Kohli's but man the comparison has been laughable. Kohli at his peak scared opposition and could destroy teams. Only mark against him his inability to do it in ICC tournaments.
Dr_Bassim
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It's funny/ironic/comical (take your pick) how opinions, biases, standards and people change over the years. I used to get called Misbah-Hater when I used to point out selfish and tuk battting by the best ODI anchor-batsman in the history of Pakistan cricket!
The arguments given were;
Misbah anchors the innings.
Misbah stablizes the innings.
Misbah builds the artnerships.
Misbah walks in at 20/3.
Misbah steadies the ship.
Misbah best ODI batsman...
Misbah this ....
MIsbah that ....
Where as ..... it seems like now the public opion is ... that Babar intentionally bats slow to make the team lose so that every fan can criticize his captaincy. Never mind the fact that he has the best ODI Win/Loss ration as captain among all time Pakistani captain with 20+ matches as captains..
Selfish Babar has scored 50+ scores in 26 wins in 94 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 26.66% of the matches he played.
Unselfish Misbah has scored 50+ scores in 25 wins in 162 ODIs that he has played. Helping win 15.43% of the matches he played. Never mind the fact that Misbah had servcies of Saeed Ajmal - the ODI wizard in his team. Ajmal, Afridi and Umar Gul took 169, 156 & 114 wickets while playing with Misbah.
Misbah didn't have ability.
Babar has ability (he can hit sixes when nearing his centuries and his personal milestones), but he refused to indulge in any risks till he reaches his average.
And where is this comparison coming from?
Isn't Babar supposed to be some ATG player of Kohli's stature?
Misbah was at best a Pakistani icon who helped steady the ship.
Babar averages 65 against SA. 70+ against Australia, 48 against England and 46 against New Zealand. He averages 60 against big teams But yes he doesn’t score against big teams.
Mamoon
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It was not a selfish decision. Haris is the type of player who takes on the bowlers from ball one, had he smacked Shaheen it would have put pressure back on Qalandars and given Zalmi much needed momentum.
It was a gamble that did not pay off today, but it is a gamble that pays off most of the time. Haris is a very impressive opener in this format. It is a shame he will not be opening for Pakistan because of the Babar-Rizwan con act.
It was a gamble that did not pay off today, but it is a gamble that pays off most of the time. Haris is a very impressive opener in this format. It is a shame he will not be opening for Pakistan because of the Babar-Rizwan con act.
NishanKonar
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1 reason - Arshdeep Singh !
Suleiman
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Yep.
Babar and Rizwan are the absolute worst openers to have when the pressure is on and the target isn’t 130-150.
Their fans will cling on to rankings which ignore strike rate and impact and give a bit too much importance to runs scored.
Unfortunately this is very common in Pak. Whoever (a lot of the times, not all) becomes captain thinks it’s his birth right to put himself before the team.
Dropping down to #3 from opener is an insult to Babar Azam in his own mind. He’s just getting more and more jaded.
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Imam-ul-Haq speaking on TV:
"Babar and I keep discussing this factor, and he agrees with it too. He says that he has now played a lot of cricket and needs to be more dominant and have more command so that he finishes matches more strongly," Imam said.
"He understands this, and we have discussed this a lot that he needs to dominate as a batsman. For that level of domination like Virat Kohli, he needs to improve his strike rate, so that once he has made fifty, he can play as he wills, so that bowlers are scared of him."
"For now, even once he is set, you don’t feel threatened that he can hit any shot anywhere. Once he develops that finishing touch, everyone will benefit, especially Pakistan and he himself as well,"
"Babar and I keep discussing this factor, and he agrees with it too. He says that he has now played a lot of cricket and needs to be more dominant and have more command so that he finishes matches more strongly," Imam said.
"He understands this, and we have discussed this a lot that he needs to dominate as a batsman. For that level of domination like Virat Kohli, he needs to improve his strike rate, so that once he has made fifty, he can play as he wills, so that bowlers are scared of him."
"For now, even once he is set, you don’t feel threatened that he can hit any shot anywhere. Once he develops that finishing touch, everyone will benefit, especially Pakistan and he himself as well,"
ArabKnight
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Babar Azam goes for a duck. PZ wins the match. Simple formula.
Give Babar another 10 years and he will come off. Hopefully.
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Big picture.
Maliq_Mudasir
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Have seen players doing it, like Rohit against Amir and Shaheen.
salman24
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Haris and Saim went out cheaply too....
ArabKnight
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Selfish Babar got out next ball after getting his 50. How many times have we seen this?
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Ok so he waited until he hit 50 and to prove his selfishness got out after that.
Varun
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He's too one-dimensional.
A new gen Mohammad Kaif at best.
A new gen Mohammad Kaif at best.
Major
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As much as i hate babar the captain, Babar the batter is not someone i can critisize. His batting is soo good that even his 50s look small.
SportsWarrior
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i don't think he is that selfish. He is just a limited matsman.. he just plays within himself. He is a fine batsman, but not a world beater
mominsaigol
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I was about to make a thread on this. I didn't even know this existed dating way back since 2017. Glad many noticed this 1990 era nonsense babar has got going on
Kianig89
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Though his average is legendary, but range of shots is very limited and game plan against spin is at elementary level
batandballbattle
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Just not looking fluent enough these days, maybe giving up the captaincy will see him back to his best
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Babar sets an example for the team but when he himself plays with a 70 strike rate so what else we can expect from other players.
We need some aggressive openers to start with else we would be nowhere in ODI cricket in next few years.
We need some aggressive openers to start with else we would be nowhere in ODI cricket in next few years.
Savak
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PCB should not only axe him as captain but also drop him from the team till he has shown that he is batting with intent and has improved his strike rate, range of shots.
asfandyar
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You need both accumulators and matchwinners in the team. In a score of 300, the first 150-200 come from accumulators and the 150-300 come from matchwinners. Babar made it pretty clear from the very start that he was not a matchwinner, but still indispensable as an accumulator, so the issue is with selectors and fans who believe otherwise. I recommend opening with Babar and Saim after the world cup, and beefing up middle order with rotation policy.
zaidihusain
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This WC was the best opportunity for Babar to showcase that he is world's number 1 batsman but the way he has performed in this WC, I don't think any team will take him seriously now. In fact it is better for opposition if Babar stays longer at the crease and scores 70-80 at SR of 70. He is playing ODIs in 2023 like how Mark Taylor or Michael Atherton used to play during 90s era. Moreover, he is very stubborn as apparently he doesn't want to enhance his game. His approach remains same whether he plays
against top team or low ranked team that's why he chokes in all big matches
against top team or low ranked team that's why he chokes in all big matches
VForVendetta
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Selfishness comes up hand in hand with mediocrity & limitations. It's wrong to expect 100+ sr from someone who simply doesn't have that sort of ability against top bowling attacks. He has to play selfishly because otherwise he won't even manage this paltry 50+ scores. This is the fourth loi tournament in a row in last 18 months that he has been proven as non entity & basically someone with zero impact. Why is it still shocking to people is something continues to baffle me. He is not that guy, never was & never will be that guy. Either accept him with such limitations or better look for the next big thing who may take Pak to the top of the mountain.
ExpressPacer
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His innings literally sucked the life out of Pakistan’s batting yesterday. He was playing so timidly and so slow that other batsmen had to take unnecessary risks because of him.
I understand that Babar is not a huge striker of the ball but he is better than the 2-3 run overs he’s playing every game lately.
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Selfish or limitation as batsman?
He plays best of his abilities.
He plays best of his abilities.
VForVendetta
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That's a very interesting observation. Kaif had a tendency to lose his shape most of the times whenever he would attempt to hit sixes against fast bowlers. He was also guilty for consuming way too many dot balls to get set in the crease. He lacked the power game & that extra gear to unleash at required situations, basically the reason why he was discarded so haplessly at his prime.
I can definitely see where you are coming from in this comparison. A tough & uneasy pill to swallow for many people but you do have valid point on this scenario.
Hitman
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I dare you find anyone better.
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He has the abilities but this lad is mentally so weak, can't handle any bit of pressure!
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Today, he should've sent Iftikhar at number 3 as the match was pretty much won for team Pakistan. Iftikhar could've ended the match a few overs earlier for Pakistan to improve the run-rate further.
He’s not selfish at all. He frequently gets out trying to hit the ball for 6 even though he knows he’s not that great of a power hitter - during his time he could easily sit back and just score slowly instead.
We need Babar in the weight room and to put on 10-15 lbs. Technique is amazing, just isn’t able to produce the power.
We need Babar in the weight room and to put on 10-15 lbs. Technique is amazing, just isn’t able to produce the power.
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