Would Pakistan have won the first Test vs Sri Lanka if you replace Babar Azam with Sachin Tendulkar?

[as-95]

Whilst we wait for the second test to begin, i pose this question to all my esteemed posters here. Would Pakistan have won the first test (16th-20th July 2022) against Sri Lanka if Sachin was playing instead of Babar Azam?

Before we get into the meat and bones of the discussion, i take this opportunity to congratulate Pakistan on one of the greatest Test wins of all time.

It was a sublime performance by Babar Azam to take his side to within 4 runs of Sri Lankas total of 222 despite his side being 85-7 on a dangerous spinning track. He then scored a half century in the second innings to help his side chase down 342 in the fourth innings on a deadly track!

We all know Sachin is right up there with the best batsmen as he was a great run scorer and treat to watch in full flow.

However, with his side in tatters like Pakistan was in the first innings on a dangerous track, would Sachin be able to take his side to victory if we replaced Babar with Sachin in this game?

In a record breaking chase, with enormous pressure, what do you think would be the outcome for Pakistan.

 

[TheSultan]

Whilst we wait for the second test to begin, i pose this question to all my esteemed posters here. Would Pakistan have won the first test (16th-20th July 2022) against Sri Lanka if Sachin was playing instead of Babar Azam?

Before we get into the meat and bones of the discussion, i take this opportunity to congratulate Pakistan on one of the greatest Test wins of all time.

It was a sublime performance by Babar Azam to take his side to within 4 runs of Sri Lankas total of 222 despite his side being 85-7 on a dangerous spinning track. He then scored a half century in the second innings to help his side chase down 342 in the fourth innings on a deadly track!

We all know Sachin is right up there with the best batsmen as he was a great run scorer and treat to watch in full flow.

However, with his side in tatters like Pakistan was in the first innings on a dangerous track, would Sachin be able to take his side to victory if we replaced Babar with Sachin in this game?

In a record breaking chase, with enormous pressure, what do you think would be the outcome for Pakistan.

Goes without saying it would have been a monumental choke

 

[Aman]

Would India have won the 2011 WC if they replaced Babar with Sachin?

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Didn't Sachin score a century in Chennai Day 5 pitch, chasing almost 400 vs England?

Or if you're referring to Babar's feat in 1st innings where he scored while rest of the team flopped. Lol that is the story of Sachin from 90s.

If it makes your sleep better though Babar >>> Sachin.

 

[Rohan]

Goes without saying it would have been a monumental choke

How many of Sachin’s centuries resulted in loss (tests or ODIs or both)??

Another trivia for you, how many of Lara’s 34 centuries resulted in win cause??? The answer is 8.

 

[as-95]

Goes without saying it would have been a monumental choke

Why? Sachin was a great run scorer and up there with the best of his generation…

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Whilst we wait for the second test to begin, i pose this question to all my esteemed posters here. Would Pakistan have won the first test (16th-20th July 2022) against Sri Lanka if Sachin was playing instead of Babar Azam?

Before we get into the meat and bones of the discussion, i take this opportunity to congratulate Pakistan on one of the greatest Test wins of all time.

It was a sublime performance by Babar Azam to take his side to within 4 runs of Sri Lankas total of 222 despite his side being 85-7 on a dangerous spinning track. He then scored a half century in the second innings to help his side chase down 342 in the fourth innings on a deadly track!

We all know Sachin is right up there with the best batsmen as he was a great run scorer and treat to watch in full flow.

However, with his side in tatters like Pakistan was in the first innings on a dangerous track, would Sachin be able to take his side to victory if we replaced Babar with Sachin in this game?

In a record breaking chase, with enormous pressure, what do you think would be the outcome for Pakistan.

Sachin would’ve probably scored 300 runs in his first batting innings.

 

[as-95]

Didn't Sachin score a century in Chennai Day 5 pitch, chasing almost 400 vs England?

Or if you're referring to Babar's feat in 1st innings where he scored while rest of the team flopped. Lol that is the story of Sachin from 90s.

If it makes your sleep better though Babar >>> Sachin.

So Sachin has scored just 3 100’s in the fourth innings… 2 of those were indeed in India against England so you may be correct. Just one of the three hundreds resulted in a victory though!

What’s your thoughts on the OP? Do you think Sachin would’ve taken his team home in this scenario?

 

[as-95]

Sachin would’ve probably scored 300 runs in his first batting innings.

Do you really believe Sachin would’ve scored 300 with his team collapsing around him and the score at 85-7?

Would’ve been a hell of a feat! Sachin is definitely up there amongst the best players of his era but that would be a little tricky?

 

[Shaddy86]

So Sachin has scored just 3 100’s in the fourth innings… 2 of those were indeed in India against England so you may be correct. Just one of the three hundreds resulted in a victory though!

What’s your thoughts on the OP? Do you think Sachin would’ve taken his team home in this scenario?

Why are you comparing apples and oranges? Babar scored his century in the 2nd innings not 4th, why are you referring to Sachin's 4th innings centuries? By your logic Abdullah Shafiq > Sachin.

 

[gazza619]

Sachin is a match winner and would have won us the game as well.

 

[as-95]

Why are you comparing apples and oranges? Babar scored his century in the 2nd innings not 4th, why are you referring to Sachin's 4th innings centuries? By your logic Abdullah Shafiq > Sachin.

I'd argue Babars second innings century was more impressive than his fourth innings half century or Shafiques 150... farming the strike and counterattacking to reach a gutsy 100 whilst your team is at 85-7 like Babar dod is the reason Pakistan even had a chance to win the game.

 

[Aman]

I'd argue Babars second innings century was more impressive than his fourth innings half century or Shafiques 150... farming the strike and counterattacking to reach a gutsy 100 whilst your team is at 85-7 like Babar dod is the reason Pakistan even had a chance to win the game.

Brother it was a first innings century against SL in SL, not a fourth innings against a prime India or Aus team in their backyard like you're making it seem like.

Shafique innings was superior, if you were going to compare an innings you'd think it would be his.

Heck Bracewell did it in even more difficult situation but no one is going to rate it that high given in was Ireland.

 

[giri26]

Sachin at the age of 18 scored 114 in Perth against Australia with the team collapsing around him to take India to 272. He played a similar innings in SA in the same year. Edgbaston 1996, Sachin scored a hundred and took India to 219 when India was struggling at 68/5. There are countless Innings like the one Babar played in the first innings. As a 19 year old saving a Test match against England and remaining unbeaten 119. I list more but you get the point. There are loads of innings overseas for Sachin in the 90's. Melbourne 1999 first innings.

So yes Sachin could have easily done the same against this SL bowling attack which is inferior to every attack Sachin played during his time including the Zimbabwe attack which was very good at home in the 90's

 

[giri26]

Actually Sachin played more such innings before he even turned 20 at the international level against much better bowlers in much difficult conditions than this one innings from Babar. Nothing against Babar, this was a fantastic innings but Sachin could have done the same in his prime.

 

[Hitman]

Don't think so. It was an unprecedented innings by Babar against an extraordinary bowling attack, and mostly in alien conditions.

 

[MenInG]

Here's a suggestion for those who wish to see their posts on this thread.

Address the question in post #1

 

[as-95]

Brother it was a first innings century against SL in SL, not a fourth innings against a prime India or Aus team in their backyard like you're making it seem like.

Shafique innings was superior, if you were going to compare an innings you'd think it would be his.

Heck Bracewell did it in even more difficult situation but no one is going to rate it that high given in was Ireland.

First of all brother, it was a second innings century after the opposition had been bowled out for 200 odd due to the dangerous pitch! Second of all, Pakistan were 85-7 so it was a monumental feat for Babar to counterattack and score a century before contributing in the fourth innings with a half century!

Without Babar getting Pakistan almost level and only trailing by 4 runs, Pakistan would have certainly lost trying to chase 400 plus on day 4/5.

You talk about prime Australia but this Sri Lanka team is menacing in spinning conditions as they just decimated Australia a week ago!

So yeah... my question is whether a good run scorer like Sachin would have been able to win the game under so much pressure!

 

[as-95]

Don't think so. It was an unprecedented innings by Babar against an extraordinary bowling attack, and mostly in alien conditions.

Whilst the bowling was very good on a rank turner (as seen by them decimating Australia a week earlier), i would not call them extraordinary!

They are most certainly very dangerous though and it would have been a challenge to get your team to touching distance of the first innings total whilst your team is 85-7.

Would you say that Sachin may get bogged down in such a high pressure scenario?

 

[Ab Fan]

No, he would have bottled under pressure situation against a bowling attack of that calibre.

Tendulkar would have probably scored a century and taken team close to the target but then get out as he did once upon a time in Chennai test in 1999( 1 inning out of 329 innings). He won't have been able to save a test match like he did in 1990, Old Trafford or won the test match in Chennai vs England 2008

 

[as-95]

Sachin obsession in PP ����
Yes Shafique would still have took them over the line. ����

Shafique would have taken them over the line if Pakistan was bowled out for 100? Not too convinced personally... Whilst Shafique played a great knock, it was the first innings counterattack of Babar on a dangerous track that took them from 85-7 to 4 runs within the first innings score!

Do you think Sachin would have played with the tail as expertly as Babar did or roll over under pressure?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Replace Sachin with Kohli and then see the magic.

 

[as-95]

Replace Sachin with Kohli and then see the magic.

Prime Kohli was mercurial and a far bigger match winner than Sachin. Would definitely argue prime Kohli would have won this game if replaced with Babar. Whats your thoughts?

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Do you really believe Sachin would’ve scored 300 with his team collapsing around him and the score at 85-7?

Would’ve been a hell of a feat! Sachin is definitely up there amongst the best players of his era but that would be a little tricky?

114 vs Australia
116 vs Australia
119* vs England
117 vs West Indies
169 vs South Africa
103* vs England
146 vs South Africa

All back to the wall innings and guess what? Just 1 of them came in India.

Now back to your argument that who won more tests due to their contribution? Then we can end all cricket debates with one answer - Ricky Ponting. The guy has most runs in 1st/2nd/3rd innings of a test match while winning and is 3rd in 4th innings.

But I guess you do know cricket is a team sport and 1 contribution can only do so much? Or maybe not...