Tom Latham vs Babar Azam - Who will make it further in the prestigious ODI format?

[Suleiman]

Both are young. Both in their 20s. Both are middle order batsmen (now). Both have similar styles of play.

Have seen a great deal of improvement in Latham's game over the NZ v IND odi series, has accelerated a lot more.

I thought this comparison would be interesting given the somewhat polarizing opinions on Babar's game where he is too cautious at the start in ODIs, yet he is scoring tons for fun, but people question how much can we look into them when they come vs depleted SL and WI sides.

On the other hand Latham had come out swinging after the CT 2017 (we are the champions btw) break looking a lot more confident and looking to score compared to being a mouse in LOIs before. Did great vs India in India where the hosts are ruthless in ODIs.

So this seems like a p valid x vs y question, who would you be more scared to face in 50 overs? Who will go further? Who won? Who's next? You decide.

 

[another drop catch]

Latham as he does not waste that much balls
his strike rotation is fabulous

 

[troodon]

IMO, Babar has a much higher ceiling than Latham.

Latham has surprised me with his stroke play. Used to think he is a Test player. But he beautifully adapted himself to the shorter format. His slog sweeps are brutal. Owned Indian spinners.

Babar will be more consistent. But Latham is more lethal when he gets going.

 

[Aman]

Babar is more proven while Latham still has a lot to do before he can be compared to anyone.

Time will tell if he's lock for our middle order.

 

[austerlitz]

Latham reminds me of sangakkara though just starting out.Let see a little more of babar azam against good bowling attacks before making a judgement,definitely potential.

 

[kingusama92]

Lots of things going against Latham in this comparison.

1) 2 Years Older (Further Into Development)
2) Worse ODI Average
3) Lower SR in ODIs
4) Double The Matches But Only Four ODI Centuries (Babar has 7)

He's been good for a few matches. Before that he went through a torrid lean patch.

It's all about how much value you give recent matches because all I see is a batsman going through a small purple patch and nothing more.

Babar has been lights out since day one.

AND before anyone brings up Babar getting centuries vs SL/WI (lame argument), Latham's centuries have come against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Ireland, and now India.

 

[Hasan123]

Latham is a brilliant talent. Glad he's showing his potential now. But in ODIs I'll go with Babar.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Latham is nothing when compared to Babar. Babar is already in a short space of time established himself as the top 5 best batsman of this generation. Pretty soon he will be No.1 moving ahead of Kohli, Sachin, etc.

Only Viv and Bradman will be beyond his reach.

Latham just averages 35, while Babar averages 58. Why are the two being compared?

 

[Junaids]

I love the thread title!

If there is one thing that the fifty overs format is NOT, it’s prestigious!

Oh, and Babar Azam. Latham will end up a Test Specialist, the opposite of his Dad, Rod Latham.

 

[Lynx]

Latham's been consistently scoring at a SR of 90-100 or more over the last few series I've seen him bat. We all love to tout Babar as the complete batsman but the truth is he's not. Babar can't accelerate and over the last 12 months, there has been a definite change in his batting where's he's becoming more of an anchor and NOT the dynamic batsman we all thought he would develop into. Latham has a similar style of play but has seriously impressed me with his strike rotation and boundary hitting ability, something which we don't see in Babar. He doesn't find the boundaries regularly enough for me, coupled with the fact he meanders along at a SR of 60-70 for the first half of his innings.

Latham wins this contest for me.

 

[zain7077]

I love the thread title!

If there is one thing that the fifty overs format is NOT, it’s prestigious!

Oh, and Babar Azam. Latham will end up a Test Specialist, the opposite of his Dad, Rod Latham.

Do you think Babar will make it big in test cricket?

 

[Ab Fan]

Babar will end as better OdI player in longer run.

 

[Ab Fan]

It's hard to rate NZ batters.

Sometimes they will play a fantastic knock and sometimes will bat like a tailender.

Ross Taylor is a perfect example. He doesn't oozes confidence while he bats but is an overall a very very good player and somehow manages crucial runs for his team.

 

[aloo paratha]

It's hard to rate NZ batters.

Sometimes they will play a fantastic knock and sometimes will bat like a tailender.

Ross Taylor is a perfect example. He doesn't oozes confidence while he bats but is an overall a very very good player and somehow manages crucial runs for his team.

Latham tbh. He may average less but he'll play at a better SR which is required for today's games. Who knows though maybe Babar will step up.

 

[dravidthewall]

Latham is nothing when compared to Babar. Babar is already in a short space of time established himself as the top 5 best batsman of this generation. Pretty soon he will be No.1 moving ahead of Kohli, Sachin, etc.

Only Viv and Bradman will be beyond his reach.

Latham just averages 35, while Babar averages 58. Why are the two being compared?

Insaallaha soo true.

 

[Abdullah719]

Latham tbh. He may average less but he'll play at a better SR which is required for today's games. Who knows though maybe Babar will step up.

What is Latham's ODI strike-rate?

 

[Bilal7]

Lol, random comparison much? Let's start comparing Babar to every young, middle-order batsman just because we can...

Babar is the better batsman. Latham hit the Indian trundlers around, that's not really saying much.

 

[Ellipsism]

Latham is nothing when compared to Babar. Babar is already in a short space of time established himself as the top 5 best batsman of this generation. Pretty soon he will be No.1 moving ahead of Kohli, Sachin, etc.

Only Viv and Bradman will be beyond his reach.

Latham just averages 35, while Babar averages 58. Why are the two being compared?

What?

 

[Miandad_fan_number_one]

Latham is nothing when compared to Babar. Babar is already in a short space of time established himself as the top 5 best batsman of this generation. Pretty soon he will be No.1 moving ahead of Kohli, Sachin, etc.

Only Viv and Bradman will be beyond his reach.

Latham just averages 35, while Babar averages 58. Why are the two being compared?

How I would love that

 

[Dingolfy]

Lol, random comparison much? Let's start comparing Babar to every young, middle-order batsman just because we can...

Babar is the better batsman. Latham hit the Indian trundlers around, that's not really saying much.

He did that while chasing big scores and was successful in first and almost in the third if not for the brilliance of chahal and Bumrah.And your Babar Tuk-tuk Azam bhaijan struggled to make a two digit score while chasing against us in CT and scored a tuk-tuk 42 when even an oldie like Hafeez was blazing out. Sure, he is better than Latham.

 

[kingusama92]

He did that while chasing big scores and was successful in first and almost in the third if not for the brilliance of chahal and Bumrah.And your Babar Tuk-tuk Azam bhaijan struggled to make a two digit score while chasing against us in CT and scored a tuk-tuk 42 when even an oldie like Hafeez was blazing out. Sure, he is better than Latham.

So what you're saying is Indian trundlers can't even deal with "an oldie like Hafeez?"

 

[rashmin]

Lol, random comparison much? Let's start comparing Babar to every young, middle-order batsman just because we can...

Babar is the better batsman. Latham hit the Indian trundlers around, that's not really saying much.

Even though format was different, it is worth to mention what "Indian trundlers" did against SL in tests and what Pak greats bowlers did against SL in tests.

 

[Khan12]

He did that while chasing big scores and was successful in first and almost in the third if not for the brilliance of chahal and Bumrah.And your Babar Tuk-tuk Azam bhaijan struggled to make a two digit score while chasing against us in CT and scored a tuk-tuk 42 when even an oldie like Hafeez was blazing out. Sure, he is better than Latham.

And he scored more then kholi, rohit and dhoni combined in the final. I see the scars of ct final are still fresh and the tears too.

 

[Dingolfy]

So what you're saying is Indian trundlers can't even deal with "an oldie like Hafeez?"

Every dog has its day.Even Balaji smoked Akthar in his own home.And we all know what happened on the previous match and what will on Asia cup.

 

[Dingolfy]

And he scored more then kholi, rohit and dhoni combined in the final. I see the scars of ct final are still fresh and the tears too.

Stating the just the facts,Bhaijan.

 

[Bilal7]

Amla vs Babar will be the comparison of the decade in a few years.

Any comparison will make more sense than Babar vs... Wait for it... Latham!

Next up on random comparisons: Faheem Ashraf vs Wayne Parnell.

He did that while chasing big scores and was successful in first and almost in the third if not for the brilliance of chahal and Bumrah.And your Babar Tuk-tuk Azam bhaijan struggled to make a two digit score while chasing against us in CT and scored a tuk-tuk 42 when even an oldie like Hafeez was blazing out. Sure, he is better than Latham.

Tuk tuk Babar outbatted Virat "nahi hota tujsey chase" Kohli in the final of the CT. I bet Latham is a better pressure player than that choker named Kohli.

The same Indian trundlers made sure 3-0 in tests again SL, we all know what Pak great bowlers did recently against SL in tests.

Agreed that the discussion is about ODIs but it is worth to mention tests as well as far as Indian trundlers are concerned.

It is not worth mentioning because tests in Asia are won by spinners, not pacers. Besides, it was our batsmen that lost those matches, not our bowlers.

 

[Itachi]

I'll go for latham.

Babar is good but he's too slow. Dravid was kicked out of the team for this same reason. It's not about talent but how you apply it. Both aren't fit for odi.

 

[Bilal7]

I'll go for latham.

Babar is good but he's too slow. Dravid was kicked out of the team for this same reason. It's not about talent but how you apply it. Both aren't fit for odi.

Babar is a much better ODI batsman than Dravid.

 

[jaf348]

Babar is still yet to prove himself against top teams. Yes he has 7 centuries but 6 of those have come against very poor West Indies and Sri Lanka sides.

Of bigger concern to him is his form in test cricket where he has been a huge flop recently.