The myth that Babar Azam lacks the extra gear in ODIs

[Smudger]

I read a lot about how babar azam lacks the ability to accelarate in Odi cricket but stats say otherwise. His sr in last 10 overs is 142 almost equal to kohli's 147 but he lacks in first 10 overs and the middle overs where his sr is 67 and 84 respectively. Kohli sr is 83 and 98 during these phases
Babar just needs to improve in middle overs to become an elite batter but his slow sr is partially due to the fact that pak doesnt have a great batting line up and he plays most of his matches on slow UAE pitches with long boundaries

 

[Madplayer]

I think Babar's problem is also that at this point of time in his career, he cannot create a boundary out of a decent ball that the bowler bowls. At least not consistently enough. He plays the ball on merit which is great generally speaking but guys like kohli have the ability to hit a boundary even on decent balls whenever they feel it is needed. Babar looks really ugly when he tried to do something like that.

This is something he needs to work on.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Give babar time , kohli wasnt a world beater at 24. Not saying that babar is kohli level or even close but by pakistan standards he is pure gold , the more he plays the better he will get.

Babar azam needs to get a lot better in test cricket though for any kind of impact. So far his test batting has been mediocre.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Give babar time , kohli wasnt a world beater at 24. Not saying that babar is kohli level or even close but by pakistan standards he is pure gold , the more he plays the better he will get.

Babar azam needs to get a lot better in test cricket though for any kind of impact. So far his test batting has been mediocre.

Kohli was already the second best ODI batsman (after ABD) by the time he was 24 though. Babar is still behind the likes of Root and Rohit.

 

[jagatk]

I don't think you are making an accurate complarison, kohli and babar can't be compared, kohli doesn't need to over accelerate as he never really goes at a slow pace, you will rarely find kohli playing 25 of 40 or 30 of 50 unlike babar, an accurate comparison would be with someone like a rohit Sharma who has similar slow start tendencies and look at how he accelerates later on to the way babar does.

 

[Madplayer]

I don't think you are making an accurate complarison, kohli and babar can't be compared, kohli doesn't need to over accelerate as he never really goes at a slow pace, you will rarely find kohli playing 25 of 40 or 30 of 50 unlike babar, an accurate comparison would be with someone like a rohit Sharma who has similar slow start tendencies and look at how he accelerates later on to the way babar does.

Its not as rare as you think.

 

[Oxfordchamp]

Look at his stats against top 4 teams..it looks bad..

 

[JibranAnsari]

Kohli was already the second best ODI batsman (after ABD) by the time he was 24 though. Babar is still behind the likes of Root and Rohit.

Kohli had 13 hundreds and averaged 49 when he was 24 after 98 games. Babar isnt doing too bad , as i have said there is no comparison between them but babar is pakistans best hope.

 

[jagatk]

Its not as rare as you think.

It is otherwise those averages stated above won't be 83 and 98.

 

[big_gamer007]

People don't understand why Kohli has has a high strike rate.. He is extremely fit and takes singles and doubles to keep the strike rotating when boundary is not coming.. Kohli is no ABD in terms of power hitting but he makes it up by being consistent in middle overs even when our of form he had ability to take singles and doubles and get back in form.

If Babar has to reach elite stage he can work on fitness and start enjoying being fit..Kohli actually loved fitness he loves to run like everyone as a kid used to... Babar should have a similar mindset and start working on fitness. When you start seeing difference in your fitness you start enjoying it more and more..

Babar just needs a good role model or mentor who can work with him about the fitness aspect and within next 4-5 gears he will become an elite batsmen himself

 

[Syed1]

Bobs is the least of our worries. Our biggest concerns are batting numbers 5-7 and lack of penetration by bowlers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Rohit has an extra gear that Kohli doesn't have. Many illustrious pak batsmen didn't have the Afridi gear or even Razzaq gear. There is nothing wrong with admitting that.

 

[Enforcer]

There is nothing wrong with Babar strike rate in comparison to Kohli. The major issue with Babar's odi batting is lack of impactful knock. Kohli at the age of 24 has already produced knocks like 133* against srilanka and 183 against pakistan while chasing.

Where as Babar Azam has not produced anything near to those knocks.

 

[Markhor]

Why are we making comparisons with Kohli ? He's more than good enough for our pitiful batting standards.

 

[jnaveen1980]

There is nothing wrong with Babar strike rate in comparison to Kohli. The major issue with Babar's odi batting is lack of impactful knock. Kohli at the age of 24 has already produced knocks like 133* against srilanka and 183 against pakistan while chasing.

Where as Babar Azam has not produced anything near to those knocks.

producing sequence of big overs on demand is one of the characteristics of batsmen with higher gear. Not everybody can be an innings builder and finisher. India is always blessed in this regard. Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dhoni (old dhoni), Yuvraj, Kohli, Rohit could also build and also accelerate in the end. For instance Amla has an impressive strike rate. But you won't give him 10 an over in the last 5 to chase down. He might look ungainly, ugly and will get out. you would rather leave it to David Miller. But 60 needed in 5 overs. I would want Rohit first any day in such a scenario over Kohli or Dhawan.

 

[barah_admi]

I read a lot about how babar azam lacks the ability to accelarate in Odi cricket but stats say otherwise. His sr in last 10 overs is 142 almost equal to kohli's 147 but he lacks in first 10 overs and the middle overs where his sr is 67 and 84 respectively. Kohli sr is 83 and 98 during these phases
Babar just needs to improve in middle overs to become an elite batter but his slow sr is partially due to the fact that pak doesnt have a great batting line up and he plays most of his matches on slow UAE pitches with long boundaries

Babar is an elite batsman, he just happens to be different to the guys you listed. He is the type of guy who consistently gets runs and that too, at a pretty good rate. The issue is that the team requires guys who can strike at the top and at the bottom of the order. Fakhar was that guy for a while but is woefully out of form. Imad may be the guy at the bottom but someone else is needed above him, which is why I think a clean striker like Asif Ali should be persisted with.

 

[IAJ]

There is nothing wrong with Babar strike rate in comparison to Kohli. The major issue with Babar's odi batting is lack of impactful knock. Kohli at the age of 24 has already produced knocks like 133* against srilanka and 183 against pakistan while chasing.

Where as Babar Azam has not produced anything near to those knocks.

Firstly people should stop comparing Babar with Kohli. Kohli is at a different level. Babar should just focus on improving and has potential to be a real great.

And Kohli’s 183, that was some crazy batting, bowling was crap but 183 is a massive score even now.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Babar is more like Amla in terms of constructing an innings.Kohlis constructs in a different way. Rotate strike. Identify the moments where he wants toaccelerate. He has a plan always.

 

[Pete Rose]

I think something has changed for the positive since he has started opening in t20. While I was generally critical pre sa tour, i am a little more on the the fence right now. Willing to give him more time.

 

[Mirpur express]

Another comparison with kohli * Just let him be Babar Azam which is a going great so far & will only improve in all aspects

 

[Hawkeye]

Babar is following Amla right now. Not Kohli.

On paper stats don't look bad.

Though Babar has the potential to improve and he will.

 

[sjahmed23]

Hopefully he keeps improving and doesn't think he's done enough and its time to chill back, because that's what most of our new crop of players have been doing.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Firstly people should stop comparing Babar with Kohli. Kohli is at a different level. Babar should just focus on improving and has potential to be a real great.

And Kohli’s 183, that was some crazy batting, bowling was crap but 183 is a massive score even now.

Bowling wasn't really crap, Pakistan actually won the Asia Cup that time. It was a crazy innings.

 

[The Viper]

I think Babar is improving his strike rate. We saw him bat at 90 a few games in the ODI series. So hopefully he can continue that and convert some of his starts.

 

[Kroll]

Babar seems to be improving all the time. Just needs to keep his focus and improve his fitness just as gamer says Kohli maintains his high SR by consistently rotating strike when the big shots aren't on.

 

[msb314]

Babar seems to be improving all the time. Just needs to keep his focus and improve his fitness just as gamer says Kohli maintains his high SR by consistently rotating strike when the big shots aren't on.

I think his fitness is good enough no?

Very lean and seems to have great stamina

 

[Xoib]

Give babar time , kohli wasnt a world beater at 24. Not saying that babar is kohli level or even close but by pakistan standards he is pure gold , the more he plays the better he will get.

Babar azam needs to get a lot better in test cricket though for any kind of impact. So far his test batting has been mediocre.

Averages over 50 in his last 10 tests he is on way to rectify his record inshallah

 

[JaDed]

I think something has changed for the positive since he has started opening in t20. While I was generally critical pre sa tour, i am a little more on the the fence right now. Willing to give him more time.

True, noticed it as well guess with experience he is improving and improvising.

 

[jnaveen1980]

True, noticed it as well guess with experience he is improving and improvising.

He will have a cealing just like all the batsmen. He is not a natural power hitter. He will look ungainly if he tries to slog. If he gradually tries to increase his slogging ability he may screw up his natural batting skills. We have seen guys like Rahane always playing outstanding shots in the power play only to screw up in the middle overs and in the end overs. As a batsman you should operate within your own limitations to get the best out of you. Jayasuriya could do some crazy things. Trying to bat like him will only result in failure. At this point he has to be surrounded by couple of impact players to make his innings more meaningful. He has not joined the club of Builder cum Finisher role yet. or even taking the team very close to win category. Others have to complement him just like how ABDV complemented Amla right through his career. But there is one area he can improve without breaking sweat which is rotating strike.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

There was never doubt about his extra gear.

But he switches that gear after reaching his 100, which is the alarming issue.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Averages over 50 in his last 10 tests he is on way to rectify his record inshallah

More than average , he needs to stay at the crease for long period of time. Two sessions , a day to really make some impact. He has scored but often his contributions didnt help much.

 

[Kroll]

I think his fitness is good enough no?

Very lean and seems to have great stamina

It is good and he's in good shape but to get to the elite levels, he needs to keep working hard on fitness. Today, he still gets out to a thuki hoyee shot.

 

[Khwaja78]

Another Shoaib Malik in the making. Have always said Azam is a useless player. Just milks in wide deliveries. Remove the pace and his timing is gone.

In T20 he makes use of the powerplay and area behind 3rd man and fine leg. It was thanks to SAffer bowlers he scored that much.

Once powerplay finishes looks like a fish out of water, can't hit just starts taking singles and in today's match played dots as well. Once Babar enters 80s he goes into century mode. Pathetic selfish player lost Pakistan a lot of deliveries there just to get to his 100 which also did'nt happen.

 

[latecut]

His extra gear overheats and he is not able to continue in that gear.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He pretty much did exactly what you would expect from him. He has a cealing. It is very hard for him to break down. Pace on ball, power play these things are needed for him. If i were him i wouldn't try to tinker too much to become a "big hitter". He doesn't have to become a big hitter. Pakistan after a very long time found a consistent batsman in the one dayers. Why do you want to screw up? Other players have to be identified to complement him.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Another Shoaib Malik in the making. Have always said Azam is a useless player. Just milks in wide deliveries. Remove the pace and his timing is gone.

In T20 he makes use of the powerplay and area behind 3rd man and fine leg. It was thanks to SAffer bowlers he scored that much.

Once powerplay finishes looks like a fish out of water, can't hit just starts taking singles and in today's match played dots as well. Once Babar enters 80s he goes into century mode. Pathetic selfish player lost Pakistan a lot of deliveries there just to get to his 100 which also did'nt happen.

how he got out ?
run out , lbw? keepers catch or what?
the guy has just scored 90 runs at 155. strike rate.
and when he gone .
the match situation was under control. he has played better inning than all of your legend

 

[Buffet]

Another Shoaib Malik in the making. Have always said Azam is a useless player. Just milks in wide deliveries. Remove the pace and his timing is gone.

In T20 he makes use of the powerplay and area behind 3rd man and fine leg. It was thanks to SAffer bowlers he scored that much.

Once powerplay finishes looks like a fish out of water, can't hit just starts taking singles and in today's match played dots as well. Once Babar enters 80s he goes into century mode. Pathetic selfish player lost Pakistan a lot of deliveries there just to get to his 100 which also did'nt happen.

You are being too harsh. He is not useless and surely not playing for his ton in this match. He did have a poor game awareness. He scored 15 runs in his last 18 balls. RR shouldn't have gone up to 12.xx from 8.xx with 9 wickets in hands. That was his mistake, but over all a good knock by Babar. Others should have scored here. This ground is very easy when you chase.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You are being too harsh. He is not useless and surely not playing for his ton in this match. He did have a poor game awareness. He scored 15 runs in his last 18 balls. RR shouldn't have gone up to 12.xx from 8.xx with 9 wickets in hands. That was his mistake, but over all a good knock by Babar. Others should have scored here. This ground is very easy when you chase.

I wouldn't call "mistake". I would call "Limitation". If that were to be done by Eion Morgan, Maxwell, David Miller, Andre Russell, ABDV that is called a mistake. Not Babar. He doesn't have the skills of those players. Going nuclear in the end with 2 or 3 massive overs.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Guys like Babar would be complemented by a batsman like Razzaq immensely. They might bring back Umar Akmal. He actually handled guys like Malinga well who had bagful of tricks.

 

[Buffet]

I wouldn't call "mistake". I would call "Limitation". If that were to be done by Eion Morgan, Maxwell, David Miller, Andre Russell, ABDV that is called a mistake. Not Babar. He doesn't have the skills of those players. Going nuclear in the end with 2 or 3 massive overs.

Mistake in sense that he should have taken risk and played shots even it meant him getting out. Him getting out 4-5 overs early would have put a lot less pressure on incoming batsmen. I don't expect Babar to play like the names you cited.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Mistake in sense that he should have taken risk and played shots even it meant him getting out. Him getting out 4-5 overs early would have put a lot less pressure on incoming batsmen. I don't expect Babar to play like the names you cited.

Looking at the hopeless middle order of Pakistan with no six hitting ability they might fall back on Umar Akmal. I know it is an unpopular move among Pak fans. Whatever happened to their batsman Hammad Azam? Is he still relevant? They could experiment Fakhar down the order?

 

[msb314]

Another Shoaib Malik in the making. Have always said Azam is a useless player. Just milks in wide deliveries. Remove the pace and his timing is gone.

In T20 he makes use of the powerplay and area behind 3rd man and fine leg. It was thanks to SAffer bowlers he scored that much.

Once powerplay finishes looks like a fish out of water, can't hit just starts taking singles and in today's match played dots as well. Once Babar enters 80s he goes into century mode. Pathetic selfish player lost Pakistan a lot of deliveries there just to get to his 100 which also did'nt happen.

If Babar is a "useless" player -what does that make for the likes of Malik, Fakhar, Sarfraz, Rizwan etc?
[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION]

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Kohli had 13 hundreds and averaged 49 when he was 24 after 98 games. Babar isnt doing too bad , as i have said there is no comparison between them but babar is pakistans best hope.

Would be interested to know how many hundreds in SENA (outside Asia) and how many in India, Bangladesh and Srilanka. At that time India was fun loving with Srilanka pummelled to an extent as boring it gets