[VIDEO] Can Babar Azam become Pakistan's greatest ever batter?

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam's batting average in the 3 formats:<br><br>Tests 46.22<br>ODIs 54.17<br>T20Is 50.72<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/3enLiMRmlO">pic.twitter.com/3enLiMRmlO</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1226121375087316992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The above is just one part of what makes him so special. But there is the confidence in his own abilities and the fact the way he approaches every innings like a technician. Nothing 'fluky' about his strokeplay, everything measured to perfection.

So is he on his way to greatness for Pakistan?

 

[JibranAnsari]

Tests and ODIs combined , Yes.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam last 7 Test innings:<br><br>143*<br>100*<br>60<br>102*<br>8<br>97<br>104<br><br>Runs 614<br>Average 153.50<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/9uI71xMpgX">pic.twitter.com/9uI71xMpgX</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1226124106460024833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mueez]

Yes.

It is only a matter of time when he breaks the record of most centuries by a Pakistani batsman.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan need to play more test cricket , if babar azam plays for another 10 years he needs to play 100 plus more tests. 70 80 more tests just wont do it for him.

 

[Bewal Express]

Not as talented as MY and Inzi but he looks hungry for runs. Bigger tests lie ahead but IA the Saj is right

 

[Titan24]

Not as talented as MY and Inzi but he looks hungry for runs. Bigger tests lie ahead but IA the Saj is right

I think Babar has more chance to succeed in those overseas conditions which MY and Inzi couldnt.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam in Test cricket in Pakistan:<br><br>143*<br>100*<br>60<br>102*<br><br>Innings 4<br>Hundreds 3<br>Fifties 1<br>Runs 405<br>Average 405.00<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1226125713927004160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam's overall international stats in Pakistan:<br><br>Innings 19<br>Runs 1092<br>Hundreds 4<br>Fifties 6<br>Average 84.00<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1226127597416914946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Titan24]

Babar still has a lot of roam to improve considering the skills he has. In next couple of years he should be creating bigger impacts in difficult ODI and Test series as I am pretty sure he can. He is entering the same stage where other greats started evolving and he is entering that stage with much more momentum and performances behind him.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam last 7 Test innings:<br><br>143*<br>100*<br>60<br>102*<br>8<br>97<br>104<br><br>Runs 614<br>Average 153.50<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/9uI71xMpgX">pic.twitter.com/9uI71xMpgX</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1226124106460024833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Damn. Insane stats.

 

[Bewal Express]

I think Babar has more chance to succeed in those overseas conditions which MY and Inzi couldnt.

MY was good overseas( anacdotally) and Inzis stats are just bad. Inzi just underachieved big time for a man that was talented as Ponting, Laura, Tend but seemed to lack hunger( no pun intended)

 

[Bewal Express]

My area of concern for him is his play of quality spin but as most spinners bar the Inds( who he will never play) and Nathan Lyon are pretty average, its not something to lose sleep over unless a plethora of good spinner suddenly appears.

 

[big_gamer007]

Easily, his fight is not being Pakistani best which he will most likely be, his fight is to be one of the world's best

 

[Abdullah]

This is old news
Needs to keep the hunger and the hard work.
May Allah bless him with more and more!!

 

[Mamoon]

The bar is very low considering our poor batting culture. Miandad is the only ATG batsman produced by Pakistan, and even he won’t get into the third all-time XI.

So yes, Babar can definitely become the best Pakistani batsman across formats. In fact, it would be very surprising if he doesn’t.

He can easily score 60-70 international hundreds.

 

[Waleed93]

He has already surpassed majority of Pakistani batsmen in terms of batsmanship.

He will end up as the GOAT from Pakistan easily.

 

[Saj]

He'll smash ODI and T20I records.

In terms of Tests it all depends if Pakistan start playing more Test cricket.

 

[shamaan]

Hes already world class

 

[Mir jibran]

By next world cup he ll be at the same level of kohli

 

[Ab Fan]

He should because not just home, he is most likely to succeed overseas among all Pakistan bats because of being very good against quality pace bowling and has the hunger of runs as apparent from his last 7-8 test innings.

 

[Heisenberg111]

He won't overtake Younis Khan in test cricket, but in tests+ODI's combined he has the chance to be best and be better than Inzamam.

 

[Ab Fan]

He won't overtake Younis Khan in test cricket, but in tests+ODI's combined he has the chance to be best and be better than Inzamam.

He can, why not. He has all the tools to surpass Miandad also, not just Khan and Inzamam.

 

[Heisenberg111]

He can, why not. He has all the tools to surpass Miandad also, not just Khan and Inzamam.

He won't play enough tests to reach 10000 runs, he can cross the 10000 run mark in ODI's though which is basically the same as Inzamam.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

He won't play enough tests to reach 10000 runs, he can cross the 10000 run mark in ODI's though which is basically the same as Inzamam.

Not his fault, test cricket numbers are on decline due to T20. We can only judge batsmen by their respective era.

 

[Ab Fan]

He won't play enough tests to reach 10000 runs, he can cross the 10000 run mark in ODI's though which is basically the same as Inzamam.

He may play till 40, so can surpass the 10K runs mark.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think Babar can break all sorts of Pakistani batting records.

He is only 25 with 3359 ODI runs. He needs 8342 more runs to top Inzamam and become leading run scorer.

I can't say much about Test as Pakistan doesn't play that many Test games.

 

[CricketDon]

I don’t understand how after these performances he ain’t now ranked in the top 5 in tests? Marnus has played good knocks only at home and he’s broken into the top 5.

I’d be shocked to not see him at 3rd in the test rankings by the end of this year.

Dare I say it but number 1 in ODI based on Kohli performances this year

 

[Ab Fan]

He may play till 40, so can surpass the 10K runs mark.

[MENTION=146229]Heisenberg111[/MENTION], and also you never know things may change 5 years later and Pakistan might play more tests per year so it's a long time to go perhaps 10 years. Both of us will get old by that time perhaps, lol.

 

[MenInG]

Highlights of Babar Azam's excellent innings on Day 2


<iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/mg22m/nxmvld" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>

.

 

[Titan24]

He won't play enough tests to reach 10000 runs, he can cross the 10000 run mark in ODI's though which is basically the same as Inzamam.

Younus played around 118 tests to reach 10,000 runs mark. Pak plays around 7-8 tests per year but there are few years with more, like 2016 with 10 plus tests.

If Babar doesnt miss many than he will play around 80-90 odd tests in 10 years (Making his total test appearances around 105-115) and if he touches the peak of Younus he should be able to reach the milestone at a younger age than Younus.

That is while considering he only plays till 35-36. If he plays till Younus Khan’s age he can score more. Though all will depend upon his peak and Test cricket around the world maintains its status and tests arent cut down around the world.

 

[Rana]

The bar is very low considering our poor batting culture. Miandad is the only ATG batsman produced by Pakistan, and even he won’t get into the third all-time XI.

So yes, Babar can definitely become the best Pakistani batsman across formats. In fact, it would be very surprising if he doesn’t.

He can easily score 60-70 international hundreds.

Miandad
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Younis Khan
Mohammad Yousuf

That’s not a low bar. I can’t name many better English/New Zealand/ South African batsmen then these 4 names.

 

[Mamoon]

Miandad
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Younis Khan
Mohammad Yousuf

That’s not a low bar. I can’t name many better English/New Zealand/ South African batsmen then these 4 names.

Inzamam, Younis and Yousuf are Pakistani greats only. They are not ATGs.

Inzamam was levels below contemporaries like Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kallis and Steve Waugh (Tests).

Yousuf, apart from 2006, was nowhere near Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara, Kallis, Dravid.

Younis was not comparable to the above names in 2000s, and in 2010s, he was below Sangakkara, Amla, de Villiers, Kohli, Clarke, Smith, Root, Williamson, Cook etc.

Some of these names like Root and Williamson might not be better than him in Tests yet, but across formats they are comfortably better.

So no, none of those three are ATGs. In my view, you cannot be an ATG if you are not in the top 3 in your position/role in your generation.

Not all the players that I mentioned here are ATGs, but I mentioned them because they were still better than their Pakistani counterparts.

Nevertheless, I am happy to listen to people who say Younis was better than Cook. I personally disagree, but I respect the opposing viewpoint.

 

[Markhor]

It'll be hard to top Yousuf's peak (2006) but Babar can definitely top him over the course of an entire career. Yousuf often went missing in tough situations.

Inzamam played crucial knocks in crunch positions on so many occasions, especially in tricky run chases so I'd like to see how Babar will fare in that respect. I don't think Babar will have the troughs Inzy did and obviously is much fitter than Inzy ever was.

Younis was masterful against spin but Babar looks much more assured against pace.

Let's see how captaincy will affect his game, I hope the responsibility will make him stronger.

 

[cricketfan11]

Batting is very different now compared to cricket of yesteryears. To become a great batsman firstly he will have to play a lot of Tests, play selfless innings, play long innings and play well outside Asia.

On top of that he will probably need to maintain an average of 50 or more.

It is difficult but doable for someone of his talent.

 

[The Viper]

I think he can. But what is important is that Babar plays more crucial knocks. What I mean is that in ODI’s he needs to score more whilst chasing for instance. In Tests, he is starting to score big- hopefully this can continue for the England tour. He has the quality to do really well in England.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Sure can, especially when you combine formats.

 

[angrypathan]

I don’t understand how after these performances he ain’t now ranked in the top 5 in tests? Marnus has played good knocks only at home and he’s broken into the top 5.

I’d be shocked to not see him at 3rd in the test rankings by the end of this year.

Dare I say it but number 1 in ODI based on Kohli performances this year

Rankings don't take home and away into account. Babar will probably break through soon if he continues like this

 

[Mobashir]

Inzamam, Younis and Yousuf are Pakistani greats only. They are not ATGs.

Inzamam was levels below contemporaries like Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kallis and Steve Waugh (Tests).

Yousuf, apart from 2006, was nowhere near Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara, Kallis, Dravid.

Younis was not comparable to the above names in 2000s, and in 2010s, he was below Sangakkara, Amla, de Villiers, Kohli, Clarke, Smith, Root, Williamson, Cook etc.

Some of these names like Root and Williamson might not be better than him in Tests yet, but across formats they are comfortably better.

So no, none of those three are ATGs. In my view, you cannot be an ATG if you are not in the top 3 in your position/role in your generation.

Not all the players that I mentioned here are ATGs, but I mentioned them because they were still better than their Pakistani counterparts.

Nevertheless, I am happy to listen to people who say Younis was better than Cook. I personally disagree, but I respect the opposing viewpoint.

Yousuf and Younis are not ATG but Inzamam is surely an ATG. You can't just take stats. His match winning ability was just amazing. He helped win test matches in Australia and in SA. His ODI batting brilliant for the era he played in.

 

[Mamoon]

Yousuf and Younis are not ATG but Inzamam is surely an ATG. You can't just take stats. His match winning ability was just amazing. He helped win test matches in Australia and in SA. His ODI batting brilliant for the era he played in.

Inzamam failed too often against the best attacks of his era. He has like 1 hundred in 100+ innings Australia and South Africa, though he did well against Ambrose and Walsh.

He was a great ODI player though, and should have scored many more hundreds if it wasn’t for his poor fitness.

I would rank him much higher than Younis and Yousuf, but not an ATG for me because he was far behind the best batsmen of his generation.

Talent wise he should have been closer to Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting, but he underachieved. In terms of raw ability, he is Pakistan’s best batsman by far.

 

[Hitman]

Inzamam failed too often against the best attacks of his era. He has like 1 hundred in 100+ innings Australia and South Africa, though he did well against Ambrose and Walsh.

He was a great ODI player though, and should have scored many more hundreds if it wasn’t for his poor fitness.

I would rank him much higher than Younis and Yousuf, but not an ATG for me because he was far behind the best batsmen of his generation.

Talent wise he should have been closer to Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting, but he underachieved. In terms of raw ability, he is Pakistan’s best batsman by far.

1 century in 120 international innings.

 

[Gilly]

Home average 202
Away average 35

HTB

 

[IAJ]

Home average 202
Away average 35

HTB

He will improve his away average as well. If he can get to 40 away and 150+ home I Will take it.

 

[Arya]

Just numbers can be deceving. Babar no doubt is a very good batsman, specially against weaker attacks on flat decks, but he is yet to show his ability in challenging conditions.

I would say he has a long way to go before being labelled Pakistan's greatest.

 

[Abid Z]

Babar has a long way to go before we start thinking of him as the next Kohli or Pakistan great. Often to do with opposition working out areas of weakness or pressures of leading your batting lineup in overseas tours.

It’s annoying how he is getting out to soft shots. It will be his Achilles heel.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I think he will end up as Pakistan's greatest batsmen and an ATG. Maybe not in Tests but I definitely see it happening in ODI's.

Just did a quick look to see how Kohli's career started and in his first 29 Tests, he averaged 39.46 with 6 centuries.

Younis Khan first 27 Tests: 38.27 AVG & 5 centuries.

It's not that easy to hit the ground running when you're beginning your career in Tests.

 

[light]

Who holds that title for pak as of now?
Babar is still young, will definitely surpass lots of great players of the past when he retires.