Big year for Babar Azam!
I wouldn't be wrong in saying that most of us agree that Babar is the best batting talent we have seen from Pakistan in a long time.
My fear is, contrary to what Mickey Arthur said, his performance is going in the opposite direction in ODI cricket.
While he looks better on the crease and has surely improved technically, his propensity to get out playing lose, or just when Pakistan needs him to kick on is far removed from the impact that top players have for their respective sides.
Let's look at it by the numbers:
From his debut to 31 Dec 2017
Matches: 36
Runs: 1758
Average: 59
S/R: 86
100s: 7
From 1 Jan 2018 to present
Matches: 23
Runs: 704
Average: 39
S/R: 82
100s: 1 (against Zim)
As you can see, there's a dip in almost every aspect.
Although I agree with Arthur's assessment that Babar is a better batsman today then he was in the first 2 years of his career, however the numbers aren't reflecting that.
Let's look at his numbers deeper from 1 Jan 2018 to present:
From 22 innings in this period:
- Babar has 3 not outs (in chases)
- 6 times he has gotten out between 20 and 50
- 3 times he has crossed 50 and gotten out
- 1 100
So if you discount the 3 not outs, that is 10 out of 19 innings he has gotten going. . That is a pretty good conversion rate. Where is the issue? He gives it away . . Most of the time, through his own error . .
Lastly, to bring my point home . . I think most people would agree he has looked a million dollars in this whole trip of South Africa. I will put my hand up and say this is the best I have seen him bat ever, across all 3 formats . . but he has ZERO 100s to show for it . . Best players really make it count when they're in the kind of form Babar has been in, in this series . .
Is it pressure? Is it the fact that he loses focus?
What's clear is that ultimately Pakistan loses out . .
We all agree he has the talent . . in fact, the world agrees . . just listening to commentary when he is batting is testament to his ability . .
2019 is a big year for Babar Azam! If he wants to transcend the highs our past good batsman like MoYo and Inzi have had, then he needs to make this year count . . otherwise he will just be another good batsman that Pakistan has had without being anything special . . It's a world cup year and babar's form for me can prove to be the difference between a semi final spot and a 1st round elimination . .
Pakistan needs Babar to take the leap and make it count!
He has the ability . . can he reflect that in numbers?
Good luck to Babar . . rooting for him to take his game to the next level!
I wouldn't be wrong in saying that most of us agree that Babar is the best batting talent we have seen from Pakistan in a long time.
My fear is, contrary to what Mickey Arthur said, his performance is going in the opposite direction in ODI cricket.
While he looks better on the crease and has surely improved technically, his propensity to get out playing lose, or just when Pakistan needs him to kick on is far removed from the impact that top players have for their respective sides.
Let's look at it by the numbers:
From his debut to 31 Dec 2017
Matches: 36
Runs: 1758
Average: 59
S/R: 86
100s: 7
From 1 Jan 2018 to present
Matches: 23
Runs: 704
Average: 39
S/R: 82
100s: 1 (against Zim)
As you can see, there's a dip in almost every aspect.
Although I agree with Arthur's assessment that Babar is a better batsman today then he was in the first 2 years of his career, however the numbers aren't reflecting that.
Let's look at his numbers deeper from 1 Jan 2018 to present:
From 22 innings in this period:
- Babar has 3 not outs (in chases)
- 6 times he has gotten out between 20 and 50
- 3 times he has crossed 50 and gotten out
- 1 100
So if you discount the 3 not outs, that is 10 out of 19 innings he has gotten going. . That is a pretty good conversion rate. Where is the issue? He gives it away . . Most of the time, through his own error . .
Lastly, to bring my point home . . I think most people would agree he has looked a million dollars in this whole trip of South Africa. I will put my hand up and say this is the best I have seen him bat ever, across all 3 formats . . but he has ZERO 100s to show for it . . Best players really make it count when they're in the kind of form Babar has been in, in this series . .
Is it pressure? Is it the fact that he loses focus?
What's clear is that ultimately Pakistan loses out . .
We all agree he has the talent . . in fact, the world agrees . . just listening to commentary when he is batting is testament to his ability . .
2019 is a big year for Babar Azam! If he wants to transcend the highs our past good batsman like MoYo and Inzi have had, then he needs to make this year count . . otherwise he will just be another good batsman that Pakistan has had without being anything special . . It's a world cup year and babar's form for me can prove to be the difference between a semi final spot and a 1st round elimination . .
Pakistan needs Babar to take the leap and make it count!
He has the ability . . can he reflect that in numbers?
Good luck to Babar . . rooting for him to take his game to the next level!
