[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Will Babar Azam revolutionise the batting culture in Pakistan?

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam is named as the best batsman and player of the tournament <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL5?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Izd9N8fnf">pic.twitter.com/2Izd9N8fnf</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1328776607415361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Kaddy]

It's unfortunate that Babar will not be able to reach 10,000 test runs milestone as we hardly play test cricket.

First of all, he should've been brought into national side in 2014, when he scored a century against Australia in UAE. We wasted his year and half at least and now his prime is being wasted in t20 matches.

 

[zain7077]

As I said he’ll be the batsman of the 2020’s.

 

[MMHS]

It's unfortunate that Babar will not be able to reach 10,000 test runs milestone as we hardly play test cricket.

First of all, he should've been brought into national side in 2014, when he scored a century against Australia in UAE. We wasted his year and half at least and now his prime is being wasted in t20 matches.

He should reach 10K runs - at present, scoring around 70 runs/Test, but that's diluted with early days lower numbers. At his peak 7-8 years, he should score around 85+ runs/Test - that's around 6K runs (70-72 Tests) by the time he reaches 33-34, already has 2K, means before 35, he should reach 8K+ runs from 105-110 Tests. Another 3-4 years, 30-35 Tests, by 38 he should definitely cross YK.

Also, two things will go in his favor here - 1. his share of soft Tests will be more than YK or Javed or MoYo and 2. His innings/Test will be higher than those. Babar has played 53 innings from 29 Tests, that's 1.83/Test. Javed had same number at 1.52, YK 1.81, MoYo 1.73 and Zaheer 1.59 .... those numbers perfectly sums up the relative strength (& position) of their respective teams.

My hunch is Babar will maintain his 1.83 numbers, if not better it - that'll need around 125 Tests to play 230 innings .... around 44/innings should easily take him past YK (Last three years since start of Jan 2018, his average RPI is over 50). However, he might not cross YK's number of hundred as his conversion rate is poor, even Javed's 24 might be tight unless he plays 130+ Tests.

 

[Abdullah719]

Babar PSL 2020 top scorer with 473, Fakhar 2nd with 325. Huge gap between the top two.

 

[Hasan123]

The only quality about the final was Babars knock. Fabulous innings.

Want to see him play these type of knocks against big teams more frequently and resulting in Pakistan wins.

 

[Kroll]

It's unfortunate that Babar will not be able to reach 10,000 test runs milestone as we hardly play test cricket.

First of all, he should've been brought into national side in 2014, when he scored a century against Australia in UAE. We wasted his year and half at least and now his prime is being wasted in t20 matches.

I mentioned something similar along these lines in the commentary thread. Misbah the great beghairat gave debut nearly two years too late so he could play his own mediocre buddies instead.

Its so infuriating I tell you.

 

[watson367]

Hopefully Haider and Shafique learn a thing or two from him.

 

[Markhor]

Babar is performing with metronomic consistency. We've now become accustomed to him starring in almost every game. However while not taking anything away from his T20 efforts, the top batsmen are judged on their record in Test and ODI cricket.

And frankly, I do not recall Babar Azam as of yet influencing the course of a Test series like Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have done regularly.

In crunch Tests, like the Abu Dhabi Test vs Sri Lanka in 2017, the two Abu Dhabi Tests vs New Zealand in 2018, and the Manchester Test this year - Babar went missing or threw his wicket away through a lack of concentration. So I want to see him grind it out in these tough NZ conditions coming up.

He's produced some splendid ODI knocks, but we are still consistently losing ODI series against the top teams. Next year he has a chance to fix that as we play more ODI cricket.

Of course, one player can't do everything. But as an all-format captain, he has significant authority over selection. I hope captaincy sees Babar take more responsibility in the crunch moments and we start beating the top teams.

 

[MHN1293]

Babar is performing with metronomic consistency. We've now become accustomed to him starring in almost every game. However while not taking anything away from his T20 efforts, the top batsmen are judged on their record in Test and ODI cricket.

And frankly, I do not recall Babar Azam as of yet influencing the course of a Test series like Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have done regularly.

In crunch Tests, like the Abu Dhabi Test vs Sri Lanka in 2017, the two Abu Dhabi Tests vs New Zealand in 2018, and the Manchester Test this year - Babar went missing or threw his wicket away through a lack of concentration. So I want to see him grind it out in these tough NZ conditions coming up.

He's produced some splendid ODI knocks, but we are still consistently losing ODI series against the top teams. Next year he has a chance to fix that as we play more ODI cricket.

Of course, one player can't do everything. But as an all-format captain, he has significant authority over selection. I hope captaincy sees Babar take more responsibility in the crunch moments and we start beating the top teams.

He was in excellent form this year but due to covid and pcbs lacking ftp he didnt get a chance to rack up odi runs. But he was found wanting on the england tour. Preformed well but not as good as expected.

 

[shamaan]

Hopefully haider abdullah can learn from him

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Hopefully Haider and Shafique learn a thing or two from him.

Said this in another thread, but one of the key things for them to learn would be to play through the line of the ball. I am always shocked how many Pakistan internationals try to hoik the ball from the offside to the leg, Fakhar Zaman being a prime example.

I get it that you want big hitters in T20 games, but it's possible to hit through the offside as well.

 

[shamaan]

Said this in another thread, but one of the key things for them to learn would be to play through the line of the ball. I am always shocked how many Pakistan internationals try to hoik the ball from the offside to the leg, Fakhar Zaman being a prime example.

I get it that you want big hitters in T20 games, but it's possible to hit through the offside as well.

Thiers a myth that haider is a leg side hack and doesnt play on the offside its untrue

 

[ataullah]

I hope Abdullah Shafiq become a Babar clone and Haider is our Rohit Sharma. Imagine this middle order blossoms and becomes our best ever:

Abdullah
Haider
Babar

Could be awesome

 

[shamaan]

I hope Abdullah Shafiq become a Babar clone and Haider is our Rohit Sharma. Imagine this middle order blossoms and becomes our best ever:

Abdullah
Haider
Babar

Could be awesome &#55357;&#56396;

Add saud in that azwell and it will become very strong indeed

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Thiers a myth that haider is a leg side hack and doesnt play on the offside its untrue

Even Fakhar Zaman plays on the offside, he can hit some great square drives, but the problem is he pre-meditates shots he wants to hit big and then tries to hit them over midwicket even if the bowler bowls outside the off stump, and these are the shots which he usually gets out on.

I suspect Haider Ali might suffer from the same misjudgments and that is why he isn't making the scores he should, otherwise he's got some talent for sure. Babar is one of the few Pakistan batsmen in a long time who will almost always try to play the ball through the line, and that's why you don't see him tossing his wicket unless he's desperately trying to accelerate the RR.

 

[zain7077]

Even Fakhar Zaman plays on the offside, he can hit some great square drives, but the problem is he pre-meditates shots he wants to hit big and then tries to hit them over midwicket even if the bowler bowls outside the off stump, and these are the shots which he usually gets out on.

I suspect Haider Ali might suffer from the same misjudgments and that is why he isn't making the scores he should, otherwise he's got some talent for sure. Babar is one of the few Pakistan batsmen in a long time who will almost always try to play the ball through the line, and that's why you don't see him tossing his wicket unless he's desperately trying to accelerate the RR.

How can you say Haider isn’t making the scores he should be? He’s played like 6 innings in International Cricket (4 T20’s).

 

[KoyoAli]

Even Fakhar Zaman plays on the offside, he can hit some great square drives, but the problem is he pre-meditates shots he wants to hit big and then tries to hit them over midwicket even if the bowler bowls outside the off stump, and these are the shots which he usually gets out on.

I suspect Haider Ali might suffer from the same misjudgments and that is why he isn't making the scores he should, otherwise he's got some talent for sure. Babar is one of the few Pakistan batsmen in a long time who will almost always try to play the ball through the line, and that's why you don't see him tossing his wicket unless he's desperately trying to accelerate the RR.

Remember seeing the same kind of "concerns" about Babar being overhyped and how he would be the same as Akmal and Shahzad. Let these youngsters express themselves and play their games. Haidar has shown raw talent the likes of which is hard to see in PCT. People who have seen him score in age groups and Domestics by playing conventional cricket know his ability and dimension as a player. Players learn from their mistakes and improve and when you have Babar with you in the dressing rooms than that's a plus that not many young Pakistani Batsmen have had for a long time.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

How can you say Haider isn’t making the scores he should be? He’s played like 6 innings in International Cricket (4 T20’s).

To be fair, I don't keep a close eye on Pakistan cricket, my opinion on Haider Ali is mostly based on last year's PSL. Making scores is one thing, making scores against the top bowlers on sporting wickets is what makes a player stand out as something special. If Haider does this then I think his future as an international will be secured, assuming he hasn't already done it.

 

[KoyoAli]

To be fair, I don't keep a close eye on Pakistan cricket, my opinion on Haider Ali is mostly based on last year's PSL. Making scores is one thing, making scores against the top bowlers on sporting wickets is what makes a player stand out as something special. If Haider does this then I think his future as an international will be secured, assuming he hasn't already done it.

He made a debut 50 against Eng in Eng when Pak was 2 down early including Babar Azam. He did so by hitting his first ball for 6. Now that's confidence.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

He made a debut 50 against Eng in Eng when Pak was 2 down early including Babar Azam. He did so by hitting his first ball for 6. Now that's confidence.

Doesn't really prove anything though. Fakhar Zaman scored centuries against opponents including England, but after you make a big score, the quality opponents will study your technique and sift out the weaknesses. Now you see after a blazing first year in cricket, Fakhar's performances against top opposition has become much more patchy.

That doesn't happen to Babar because he has no weakness, other than not being a huge 6 hitter. At the top level you can't hoik the best bowlers across the line, you will get found out.

 

[KoyoAli]

Yeah but Fakhar's technical problems were there to see even when he was scoring runs for fun. It was inevitable that he would be found out, he actually was found out by India and only the no ball saved him. Haidar however has a complete conventional game. I don't see him going downhill like Fakhar and U Akmal.

 

[shamaan]

Even Fakhar Zaman plays on the offside, he can hit some great square drives, but the problem is he pre-meditates shots he wants to hit big and then tries to hit them over midwicket even if the bowler bowls outside the off stump, and these are the shots which he usually gets out on.

I suspect Haider Ali might suffer from the same misjudgments and that is why he isn't making the scores he should, otherwise he's got some talent for sure. Babar is one of the few Pakistan batsmen in a long time who will almost always try to play the ball through the line, and that's why you don't see him tossing his wicket unless he's desperately trying to accelerate the RR.

He already have 3 50s what were you expecting him to make in this early stages of his career and that at a strike rate of 140+

You cant expect him to have strike rate of 140+ and have a average of 50.

Fakhar does sometimes play on the offside but not that much haider plays all around the wicket he plays the cut as good as everyone

 

[shamaan]

Doesn't really prove anything though. Fakhar Zaman scored centuries against opponents including England, but after you make a big score, the quality opponents will study your technique and sift out the weaknesses. Now you see after a blazing first year in cricket, Fakhar's performances against top opposition has become much more patchy.

That doesn't happen to Babar because he has no weakness, other than not being a huge 6 hitter. At the top level you can't hoik the best bowlers across the line, you will get found out.

Now and then a aggressive player will hoik the ball just go watch some of the boundaries that haider hit in the psl some of the shots are incredible.the only thing he needs to work on is the short ball.haider ali wont be like umar akmal or shezard hes played some doesmtic games and come throw the u19s team

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

He already have 3 50s what were you expecting him to make in this early stages of his career and that at a strike rate of 140+

You cant expect him to have strike rate of 140+ and have a average of 50.

Fakhar does sometimes play on the offside but not that much haider plays all around the wicket he plays the cut as good as everyone

I am not saying Haider is a hack, I have already said I have only seen him on few occasions in last year's PSL where he was not so great. Maybe he is a fantastic talent, until I see how he handles top bowlers in more depth I am withholding judgement.

If you think that he is a class player then maybe he is, you will have probably seen a lot more of him than me.

 

[shamaan]

I am not saying Haider is a hack, I have already said I have only seen him on few occasions in last year's PSL where he was not so great. Maybe he is a fantastic talent, until I see how he handles top bowlers in more depth I am withholding judgement.

If you think that he is a class player then maybe he is, you will have probably seen a lot more of him than me.

So why dont u go watch his videos on YouTube maybe It will give u more of an idea

 

[ataullah]

A troll who said Babar won't survive an over led me to this research. Babar's average against MI's bowling attack in all formats is 63.80. He's scored 319 runs vs Bumrah, Boult, NCN, Pandya, Pollard at the cost of 5 dismissals.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

So why dont u go watch his videos on YouTube maybe It will give u more of an idea

For one thing I don't follow cricket as closely as I used to since WOT + BCCI efforts marginalised Pakistan cricket. I've seen better times, very difficult for me to get motivated watching Pakistan being shunted into second tier leagues.

Secondly, Watching a youtube video of a player hitting all his best shots doesn't really give you any idea of how that player deals with games in real time. A player can get to 50 while struggling to hit fast bowlers at one end and whacking the spinners when the pacers have been replaced after 2 over stints in a T20 game.

 

[shamaan]

For one thing I don't follow cricket as closely as I used to since WOT + BCCI efforts marginalised Pakistan cricket. I've seen better times, very difficult for me to get motivated watching Pakistan being shunted into second tier leagues.

Secondly, Watching a youtube video of a player hitting all his best shots doesn't really give you any idea of how that player deals with games in real time. A player can get to 50 while struggling to hit fast bowlers at one end and whacking the spinners when the pacers have been replaced after 2 over stints in a T20 game.

Okay that's fair enough if you dont want watch pakistan.every team loses to second tier leagues.


Well then am sure you will see a mixture of a batter hitting fast bowlers and spinners as you dont watch it that much the only option for you is to search on a YouTube it may give you a slight reason to state hes looks good or he doesnt look good now from last year.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Worth of babar azam ?

where pakistan team stand without babar azam ?

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is what you call consistency, Babar Azam:<br><br>6 in the ICC Test Rankings<br>1 in the ICC ODI Rankings<br>2 in the ICC T20I Rankings<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/1384934614481969154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1⃣7⃣9⃣ International matches<br>8⃣5⃣5⃣1⃣ Runs across formats<br>2⃣0⃣ Centuries<br><br>Happy birthday to Pakistan skipper, <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <br><br>Relive his 101* against New Zealand in the 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketworldcup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cricketworldcup</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Dewvwjiu6M">pic.twitter.com/Dewvwjiu6M</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1448906658403569694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Babar Azam’s records and milestone during the National T20 Cup:

Pakistan captain Babar Azam played only six games in this National T20 but that was enough for him to engrave his name in record books.

Babar scored 286 runs at an average of 71.50 and during his short stint he completed 7,000 runs in T20s from only 187 innings, the least taken by any batter to reach the milestone. He broke Chris Gayle’s record of 7,000 runs in 192 innings.

Babar also played an unbeaten knock of 105 off 63 balls against Northern becoming the first batter from Pakistan to register six centuries in the format. He went past the tally of Ahmed Shahzad and Kamran Akmal, who have five centuries each in T20 cricket.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the finest in the world &#55357;&#56399;<br><br>&#55356;&#57218; Wishing <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> a very happy birthday.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LoveLords?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LoveLords</a> <a href="https://t.co/qxObUsR3HQ">pic.twitter.com/qxObUsR3HQ</a></p>— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/HomeOfCricket/status/1448934047040917505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[OMB]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the finest in the world ��<br><br>�� Wishing <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealPCB</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> a very happy birthday.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LoveLords?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LoveLords</a> <a href="https://t.co/qxObUsR3HQ">pic.twitter.com/qxObUsR3HQ</a></p>— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/HomeOfCricket/status/1448934047040917505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

No doubt about his quality. Will go on to break lots of records for Pakistan and maybe for the world too

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Number 1 ranked batter in ODIs<br>Captain in all 3 formats<br>One of the best batters in the world<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> in 1997, the brilliant Babar Azam was born in Lahore<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/AzHOI0jg2j">pic.twitter.com/AzHOI0jg2j</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1448985296188620802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Forum363]

In answer to the thread title - YES. His career is young but we can already see the impact he has on fans and young players. We’ve never had a player who is so technically correct and plays these kind of shots.

I’m not saying he’s better than the likes of Inzamam or as classy as Yusuf but his overall technique is impeccable. And that will definitely be copied by young batsmen in Pakistan.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

At least our ODI batting is looking stronger than ever ..
Fakher/imam
Abdullah
Babar
Saud
Rizwan