The myth of Babar Azam's slow Strike-Rate

[barah_admi]

...or what many on here call "selfish batting yaar".

If we look at ODI batsmen with 50 or more games this decade (2010 - now), there are eleven batsmen who average 50 or more. Of those eleven batsmen, only six have a SR of above 85.69 (Babar Azam's current strike rate).

Of those six, one is the all time great AB Devilliers, who has now retired from international cricket (his SR of 109 is far above everyone else, including being 15 better than Virat Kohli). The remaining batsmen have played in most cases, double as many matches as Babar Azam, Kohli has played over 200. All of them are a lot older, a lot more experienced and with years more experience within the realm of international cricket.

Of the 10 current batsmen with averages over 50, only 2 actually average over 90, both of whom are experienced, all time greats (Amla and Kohli).

As I have posted before, and will continue to do so, Babar Azam's strike rate is not outdated, or selfish, or rubbish or any of the other inaccurate phrases I have been reading on here for months. His conversion rate is also one of the best...in fact, when only Kohli and Amla best you by a meaningful distance, then you know you are doing something right.

I hope Babar doesn't listen to the most toxic fanbase on the internet and continues to do things his way.

 

[Ronaldo7]

The guy didn't even hit a single boundary from 80 to 100 except the one which brought up his 100. It's not like he was trying but it wasn't coming off. The guy genuinely didn't try. He went 10 overs without a boundary. If that isn't selfish then i don't know what is.
This is coming from a babar fan. He's my favourite pakistani player but this innings was just selfish.

 

[Chokli]

No boundaries at all in 10 overs but yes he's not selfish at all.

 

[Salman4.]

No boundaries at all in 10 overs but yes he's not selfish at all.

View attachment 91446

Not to mention that the boundary off Curran (for thr century) was a poor ball on the pads and he just had to touch it.

 

[emranabbas]

...or what many on here call "selfish batting yaar".

If we look at ODI batsmen with 50 or more games this decade (2010 - now), there are eleven batsmen who average 50 or more. Of those eleven batsmen, only six have a SR of above 85.69 (Babar Azam's current strike rate).

Of those six, one is the all time great AB Devilliers, who has now retired from international cricket (his SR of 109 is far above everyone else, including being 15 better than Virat Kohli). The remaining batsmen have played in most cases, double as many matches as Babar Azam, Kohli has played over 200. All of them are a lot older, a lot more experienced and with years more experience within the realm of international cricket.

Of the 10 current batsmen with averages over 50, only 2 actually average over 90, both of whom are experienced, all time greats (Amla and Kohli).

As I have posted before, and will continue to do so, Babar Azam's strike rate is not outdated, or selfish, or rubbish or any of the other inaccurate phrases I have been reading on here for months. His conversion rate is also one of the best...in fact, when only Kohli and Amla best you by a meaningful distance, then you know you are doing something right.

I hope Babar doesn't listen to the most toxic fanbase on the internet and continues to do things his way.

take away minnows and you wont even find babar in the list )

hes been milking west indies, sri lanka and zimbabwe

 

[Cric1234]

King of soft runs his hundred against Australia was similar to the one in the last match hard to remember a real match winnings innings from him has plenty of chance batting at 3.

 

[Cric1234]

That doesn't mean he's a bad Batsman a decent one by Pakistani standards better than Imam who'll be exposed over time but again the hundreds he scores don't blow the opposition away the other batsmen have to do the hitting for him.

 

[topspin]

No boundaries at all in 10 overs but yes he's not selfish at all.

View attachment 91446

Good work here.

Game
Set
Match

That’s end of the thread. Nothing more to see.

 

[SecularPakistanii]

Babar is such a talented batsman but is a selfish batsman no doubt. That's why we need to have players like Zaman, Asif Ali and a couple more aggressive batsmen in the line up. You cannot compete on these small grounds and small pitches with your batting line up filled with anchors or accumulators.

 

[ads101]

Babar plays the majority of his innings at a fairly quick SR even early on in his innings. His issue is really accelerating once he plays himself in, he just usually keeps going around the same way. Kind of makes sense why he'd do that, batsmen start going at it and striking the ball once they're set, while this isn't Babar's game as much, he knows to keep the run rate ticking without really going for the big shot.

Hafeez hit 3 6s same match, yet his SR isn't that much higher than Babar. Yes he was on 59, so maybe by the time he got to 100, he would have had a much better SR. Goes to show if only maybe our players were more well rounded, if they could do what Babar could do an accelerate via hitting. But then they'd be amongst the best in the world, which none of our batsmen really are.

 

[Abdullah719]

No boundaries at all in 10 overs but yes he's not selfish at all.

View attachment 91446

During this period, he made 17 off 25 balls. Went from 80 off 78 to 97 off 103.

I don't know whether it was just the pressure of getting to a ton after a long time or what, he hasn't been amongst the runs in ODIs for long. But he can not let this continue, on such pitches.

Cricket is a game of momentum and your main batsman can not be striking in the 60s while he transitions from an 80 to a 100.

One thing to note is that since Haris has come into the ODI squad and playing XI, Babar's starts are generally quicker (he used to start pretty slow). So I get the feeling that he realises that he can up the tempo a little now, and play his proper game without having to worry about not losing his wicket at any cost (when you have Hafeez at 4, you can't afford to go 2 down early). I feel he's still figuring out how to balance the innings properly. Until he got to 80 against England, it was a pretty good knock.

 

[SecularPakistanii]

I believe the problem with Hafeez and Babar is not boundry hitting ability... problem is they both play too many dot balls. Hafeez can usually take the spinners to the cleaners to up his SR...but Babar doesn't have that sort of ability.

 

[Ronaldo7]

During this period, he made 17 off 25 balls. Went from 80 off 78 to 97 off 103.

I don't know whether it was just the pressure of getting to a ton after a long time or what, he hasn't been amongst the runs in ODIs for long. But he can not let this continue, on such pitches.

Cricket is a game of momentum and your main batsman can not be striking in the 60s while he transitions from an 80 to a 100.

One thing to note is that since Haris has come into the ODI squad and playing XI, Babar's starts are generally quicker (he used to start pretty slow). So I get the feeling that he realises that he can up the tempo a little now, and play his proper game without having to worry about not losing his wicket at any cost (when you have Hafeez at 4, you can't afford to go 2 down early). I feel he's still figuring out how to balance the innings properly. Until he got to 80 against England, it was a pretty good knock.

I think that him not scoring a century for so long is the reason why he slowed down so much. Hopefully, now he doesn't feel the pressure and can score centuries at a faster rate.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Doesnt matter if we drop catches, period.

 

[Sean143]

I am possibly the biggest Babar Azam fan on this planet, but wouldn't hesitate in saying that this was a very selfish innings, particularly between overs 27-38. I thought that he could have also accelerated earlier, Denly didn't deserve respect. I was also disappointed at Fakhar for not targeting Denly.

 

[Mean&Green]

Ok look at this way even if they are selfish those runs are needed if Babar got out we wouldn’t have scored anything unlike the previous game that pitch was just something else nothing in it at all also he’s our best batsman criticizing him now won’t help in the World Cup we need to back him especially on the forum doesn’t mattter but Ramiz criticizing him matters and impacts him in a big way cause he will see that hopefully he will win us matches how many do we play anyways where he needed to score big for us to win

 

[SecularPakistanii]

Some of these PPers deserve Imam ul Haq, Imad Wasim and Sarfraz.

Can you imagine all 3 of those guys batting in that particular batting order. I would quit watching Pakistan cricket

 

[CricFan2012]

Babar Azam is our best batsman and I really enjoy his unpakistani batsmanship, but it is true that he lacks power game, or the need to put the team above milestones, if he develops that then he can become an incredible player.

These stats don't work here as much because he made his debut in 2015 where things were really shifting towards batsmen with even flatter pitches, meanwhile, the other players on that list such as Kohli and AB played earlier when the balanced wasn't extremely skewed as it is now.

If he averaged around 55 with his current strike rate, then he would basically be a Pakistani Tendulkar, who also slowed down as he approached his century, getting out on 99 so many times.

I will and always hate these selfish features in some players game, its a team sport for goodness sake, there is no need to look at a 100 like its a big deal, also annoys me when players do these fancy celebrations for their 100s, the game is not over once you get it, celebrate like that when you win.

In the end, either he's willingly slowing down and not taking risks later in his innings for the 100, or he's a mental midget like so many of our players in the past, whatever it is, he can always do better for our team, there's no harm in shifting from this mindset, only positives.

 

[Madplayer]

take away minnows and you wont even find babar in the list )

hes been milking west indies, sri lanka and zimbabwe

Why dont you drop him then and select Pakistani Bradmans? you cant do that for a small reason that you dont have bradmans

 

[barah_admi]

This thread shows the hypocrisy and plain hate from members of this forum, which is exactly what I was looking to expose.

Not a single poster has countered my point that Babar's strike rate and average is not much away from the top 3 or so batsmen on the planet. If he is to be considered selfish, then so must those batsmen.

This was easier than I expected.

 

[Syed1]

We shall see today if Babar keeps the team's needs above his personal milestones.



Last time Pak was chasing 360 in Australia, Bobby Azam was content at hitting a century at 70 Sr and celebrated as if he won the WC.

 

[Ronaldo7]

We shall see today if Babar keeps the team's needs above his personal milestones.



Last time Pak was chasing 360 in Australia, Bobby Azam was content at hitting a century at 70 Sr and celebrated as if he won the WC.

70??
It was 90+
The guy was very new in international cricket. He had to justify his spot.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

So you would prefer Babar to score nothing and not be consistent, just increase his strike rate?

Him and Imam are our most consistent batsman, i dont understand people.

If he scores a century people moan, when he scores nothing we moan.

The reason all of his centuries have not won us games is the other batsmam around fail to score.

 

[barah_admi]

Babar gets a century = he should have done more

Babar doesnt get a century = he should have got a century

 

[Saj]

During this period, he made 17 off 25 balls. Went from 80 off 78 to 97 off 103.

Unacceptable numbers for a batsman out there so long, settled at the crease and with no wickets falling.

 

[mak36]

One thing to note is that since Haris has come into the ODI squad and playing XI, Babar's starts are generally quicker (he used to start pretty slow). So I get the feeling that he realises that he can up the tempo a little now, and play his proper game without having to worry about not losing his wicket at any cost (when you have Hafeez at 4, you can't afford to go 2 down early).

Prescient analysis.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar has batted at the right tempo in this series. For a over year, he was worryingly slow in the first half of his innings, but as long as he is consistently maintaining a SR of 90, there is nothing much to complain.

 

[W63L35]

Unacceptable numbers for a batsman out there so long, settled at the crease and with no wickets falling.

Who would you replace Babar with, then?
Also who would you replace Sarfraz with at captaincy?

 

[barah_admi]

Unacceptable numbers for a batsman out there so long, settled at the crease and with no wickets falling.

Unacceptable how? He had to make runs, there was a period when that was tough. His overall inning strike rate was still over a 100.

Can you tell me who is world cricket, especially within his age range is even on par with him let alone better?

 

[Saj]

Who would you replace Babar with, then?
Also who would you replace Sarfraz with at captaincy?

Where did I say they need replacing?

 

[Saj]

Unacceptable how? He had to make runs, there was a period when that was tough. His overall inning strike rate was still over a 100.

He had to make runs and that was a tough period? Oh come on, the pitch was as flat as they come, he was settled at the crease. During this period, he made 17 off 25 balls. Went from 80 off 78 to 97 off 103.

 

[Abdullah719]

Unacceptable how? He had to make runs, there was a period when that was tough. His overall inning strike rate was still over a 100.

Can you tell me who is world cricket, especially within his age range is even on par with him let alone better?

You're taking it the wrong way.

The point is that this is a weakness which he can and should rectify. There is always room for improvement, even for the best players. Babar is still the first option and will remain the first option for #3 for a long time.

 

[Hasan123]

I think we should accept that he can't hit 4s and 6s at will but his strike rotation should be better. Other than that, he's doing a good job.

 

[barah_admi]

You're taking it the wrong way.

The point is that this is a weakness which he can and should rectify. There is always room for improvement, even for the best players. Babar is still the first option and will remain the first option for #3 for a long time.

I am not taking it the wrong way at all. The point is, there are only 2, maybe 3, batsmen on the entire planet, who can average fifty and possibly score at a rate faster than Babar. It is wrong to criticise someone who is younger than all his competition, has a better conversion rate and is just getting started in this game.

To label him slow, or out dated or selfish is, quite frankly, the opposite of intelligent.

 

[waleed88]

I am not taking it the wrong way at all. The point is, there are only 2, maybe 3, batsmen on the entire planet, who can average fifty and possibly score at a rate faster than Babar. It is wrong to criticise someone who is younger than all his competition, has a better conversion rate and is just getting started in this game.

To label him slow, or out dated or selfish is, quite frankly, the opposite of intelligent.

You are probably new here, [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] is one of loyalist Babar Azam fans out there who has gotten into alot of arguements with me on Babar over the years. When he is talking about Babars mistakes then I'm pretty sure he sees reason for improvement in Azams batting which is basically what we all want. For him to stop scoring inconsequential runs that don't benefit the team at all in some way.

 

[waleed88]

I am not taking it the wrong way at all. The point is, there are only 2, maybe 3, batsmen on the entire planet, who can average fifty and possibly score at a rate faster than Babar. It is wrong to criticise someone who is younger than all his competition, has a better conversion rate and is just getting started in this game.

To label him slow, or out dated or selfish is, quite frankly, the opposite of intelligent.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/282919.html

I see about 30 people in the world atleast with a better strike rate with Babar.

As you can see all the biggest modern names in cricket do make that list but somehow Azam is not on the list. Even if you remove the tail enders and hard hitters there are still alot of names that Babar azam is nowhere close to.

In the era of a base SR of 90, Azam is languishing in the world 80s. Which is equivalent to a SR of 70s in 2013 era for Pakistan. Inconsequential and irrelevant if it does not give any results to Pakistan besides their average.

 

[barah_admi]

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/282919.html

I see about 30 people in the world atleast with a better strike rate with Babar.

As you can see all the biggest modern names in cricket do make that list but somehow Azam is not on the list. Even if you remove the tail enders and hard hitters there are still alot of names that Babar azam is nowhere close to.

In the era of a base SR of 90, Azam is languishing in the world 80s. Which is equivalent to a SR of 70s in 2013 era for Pakistan. Inconsequential and irrelevant if it does not give any results to Pakistan besides their average.

That is horrendous analysis.

Babar averages 50+, do you know how many ODI batsmen with 50 or more matches average 50+ this decade? And how many of them have a better strike rate?

You don't so I suggest you read my first post.

 

[Titan24]

Irrespective of how fast Babar is scoring and how much talent he possesses if the best batsman in the team cant win his team a single match since his debut against a decent team then its worrying. He is young so I can only hope he improves in terms of creating an impact but at the moment his talent hasnt been translated into wins.

 

[Zaz]

Nobody is saying he should be dropped
Nobody is saying he isnt the best batsman in the team

But the fact is he does have a tendency to play for milestones by slowing down which he needs to drop -thats all

Play according to the match situation babar rather than padding up stats against the needs of the team

 

[Sirris]

How much does a 50+ average really matter? I'd have no problem if babar were to average 45ish but would he more explosive and helping us win matches.

 

[Abdullah]

How much does a 50+ average really matter? I'd have no problem if babar were to average 45ish but would he more explosive and helping us win matches.

Agreed , but our line up needs him to stick around

 

[Hawkeye]

Babar has batted at the right tempo in this series. For a over year, he was worryingly slow in the first half of his innings, but as long as he is consistently maintaining a SR of 90, there is nothing much to complain.

+1000.

 

[saeed5646]

usual suspect are absent from the thread

 

[PakPlayer]

What is his fault that the bowlers cannot defend 350 and he has a strike rate. Yes he slowed down, which was his mistake. tske his runs out and you would be see Pakistan get a hiding.

 

[iPakistani]

Excellent tour from Babar Azam he had the most runs on the entire tour, ODIs at a SR of 99 and T20I at a SR of 154. Excellent signs, inshallah he can continue.