Why hasn't Babar Azam been able to replicate his ODI success in the Test format?

[QalandarFan]

So Babar Azam has done very well in ODI's in his short career. He has got 5 hundreds in a short amount of matches and seems to be doing well once he gets set he doesn't give his wicket away.

Although the question I want to pose is, why hasn't Babar been able to replicate that success in the Test Format or even do moderately well. Now I know he has only played 9 Tests and is only 22 but an average of 27 is way below what I would've expected from him. I remember him scoring a 90* against NZ on a green track with wickets tumbling all around him and I thought this kid is going to do great in Australia. But unfortunately he couldn't much. Not much problems a tour to Australia early in your Test career can be tough.

Then comes the West Indies tour and has absolutely feasted on them in ODI's. One would think he is bound to do well and he starts of with a great first test. Although what happened after that is beyond me he got 3 ducks in 4 innings, against WI! I am a big fan of Babar and hope he can bounce back from this iffy start and make a big impact at the test level.

So why has Babar not been able to do well in the Test Format SO FAR.

 

[msb314]

He just needs time as he finds his feet in Test cricket - he will come good.

 

[Mamoon]

Simply because he hasn't played enough matches in the UAE. Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean is not an ideal start for a young batsman.

The likes of Azhar, Younis, Misbah, Shafiq, Sarfraz etc. are all average batsmen on non-flat wickets, but they have found ways to score runs once in a while outside their comfort-zones because of the experience that they have accumulated, something Babar does not have at this point.

However, he is a run scoring machine and Tests should be his best format in the long run. Statistically he should be very impressive in LOIs as well, but he is not impactful enough.

 

[Fantasy]

There are some players who will settle into the different formats readily and there are some who take their time to settle down.Babar is someone who who fits in the second category.He has been terrific over a year and a half now in ODIs and there is no denying the fact that he ain't the finished product yet.He still has a lot to improve upon.

The problem with most of the Pakistani fans is that they won't let any young player settle down and let him grow.There will be constant bashing of that player on the basis of liking and disliking.You guys have to understand that he is in that age bracket that he is only going to grow and be a better player the more he plays and experience different situations.

Need to be patient and he will come good in every format.

 

[QalandarFan]

To reiterate no where in my post did I say Babar is not going to get better in test, nor did I say he should be dropped. I simply posed a question as to why he has not been successful in tests so far.

 

[mikebel111]

Not really sure but its still very early. Maybe its the different style but he should be able to get results in tests sooner or later.

 

[kaifmazhar]

How many has he played yet? His test number still not in double figures and you have a major concern already. Hasn't he given enough hint to be a successful batsman in future? Only if you can understand that sometimes it takes a little bit of time to feel settled.

 

[todfod 11]

watch him from now on. there was too much expectations on his shoulder. he will feel a little more comfartable now.. pakistani fans are So happy with CT result even few lossea would dampen the spirit

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

this is something that i think is the reason why some players fail to convert their scores in test cricket

1. red ball: the ball is different. it does a bit more both with the new and old one.

2. the pitches: test pitches have different character through out the 5 days. in odi's u may never really need to develop skills for say 4th or 5th day cricket

3. stop start nature of test cricket: every session is 2 hours and it's a mental battle. last 15 minutes of each session u have to be extra defensive, first 15 u have to get settled in again

4. elimination of go to shots: the dabs to third man, the glides become dangerous shots. batsmen struggle to rotate strike.

5. test match bowling line: bowlers can easily put the ball in good areas and wait for the batsman to make mistakes. with slips, escape shots are minimal.

6. physical fitness: tests go on for 5 days and require more physical and mental fitness

7. mental barrier: barring afridi even the maddest of mad hatters have reined in their powers to play controlled innings

 

[MMsheikh2000]

I think he is batting at the wrong number in tests. In tests a 3 is different to a 3 in ODI. We need someone like Shafiq at 3 and then have babar at 4 or 5 ideally.
I think this could change his test fortunes.

 

[kaifmazhar]

I think he is batting at the wrong number in tests. In tests a 3 is different to a 3 in ODI. We need someone like Shafiq at 3 and then have babar at 4 or 5 ideally.
I think this could change his test fortunes.

Perhaps yes. Sometimes it looks as if he is feeling that pressure. For a guy as young as him it is better to play at 5 or 6 and then may be in future he can be utilised there. I think many teams arrange that kind of a thing for their promising newcomers. Just to let him get settled. Shafiq should be pushed up and be given the bigger responsibilities. For too long he has stayed in the team like a newcomer. Pak has invested heavily in him though I am not sure if this was the right thing to do with such a defensive mindset cricketer.

 

[ItsArslan]

I think he'd be batting at 4 with Azhar back at 3. Azhar struggles early on and he has most of his scores at 3. We can get a young opening partnership with Sami Aslam and Ahmed Shehzad. Sami Aslam needs to be back up as he knows how to score runs and stay at the crease for a long time period. Ahmrd Shehzad just needs a bit of confidence in an innings and he can be back to best. I remember how he was scoring runs before got hit by a bouncer against New Zealand. He was on 150+ on that time too i suppose. Then we have to sort out only one batting position in middle order. We can try Umar Amin/Haris Sohail/Fawad Alam/Umar Akmal. My test XI is
1. Sami Aslam
2. Ahmed Shehzad
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Usman/Umar Amin
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Sarfraz Ahmed
8. Mohammad Aamir
9. Yasir Shah
10. Hasan Ali
11. Mohammad Abbas

 

[Billy1999]

I feel he will be the next king of Pakistans batting,He has to stay active as well as being positive,I believe in Babar and I also hope he will be there at the crease in many,many upcoming difficult situations.

 

[ExpressPacer]

He's young and has played his cricket in some of the world's toughest conditions against some of the world's best bowling attacks. Even the West Indies in all their lows possess a quality bowling unit in the form of Gabriel and Joseph. To add to that, he's found bad firm at the wrong time. Nonetheless, I expect him to bounce back soon. Hopefully sanity prevails and Hafeez doesn't replace him at No.3 because Babar Azam is destined for greatness and will prove it.

 

[hassammasood]

this is something that i think is the reason why some players fail to convert their scores in test cricket

1. red ball: the ball is different. it does a bit more both with the new and old one.

2. the pitches: test pitches have different character through out the 5 days. in odi's u may never really need to develop skills for say 4th or 5th day cricket

3. stop start nature of test cricket: every session is 2 hours and it's a mental battle. last 15 minutes of each session u have to be extra defensive, first 15 u have to get settled in again

4. elimination of go to shots: the dabs to third man, the glides become dangerous shots. batsmen struggle to rotate strike.

5. test match bowling line: bowlers can easily put the ball in good areas and wait for the batsman to make mistakes. with slips, escape shots are minimal.

6. physical fitness: tests go on for 5 days and require more physical and mental fitness

7. mental barrier: barring afridi even the maddest of mad hatters have reined in their powers to play controlled innings

This!! Can't emphasis this enough. With how the limited overs format has evolved test cricket is just a different game. Along with these things, Test match cricket also just involves a lot of patience and temperament that some new limited overs players struggle to find. But then again Babar Azam is still not as bad as a test player as his record suggests and his numbers will likely improve as he plays more and more but he might have to adjust his game a bit to really become a big player in that format. Kohli struggled quite a bit adjusting early on in his career aswell and still gets out playing one day mindset shots sometimes. But he's done tremendously to adjust his game to be a good player in tests, something Babar Azam can hopefully do aswell.

 

[Hamza_]

this is something that i think is the reason why some players fail to convert their scores in test cricket

1. red ball: the ball is different. it does a bit more both with the new and old one.

2. the pitches: test pitches have different character through out the 5 days. in odi's u may never really need to develop skills for say 4th or 5th day cricket

3. stop start nature of test cricket: every session is 2 hours and it's a mental battle. last 15 minutes of each session u have to be extra defensive, first 15 u have to get settled in again

4. elimination of go to shots: the dabs to third man, the glides become dangerous shots. batsmen struggle to rotate strike.

5. test match bowling line: bowlers can easily put the ball in good areas and wait for the batsman to make mistakes. with slips, escape shots are minimal.

6. physical fitness: tests go on for 5 days and require more physical and mental fitness

7. mental barrier: barring afridi even the maddest of mad hatters have reined in their powers to play controlled innings

Brilliant post