Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is regarded as one of the modern day greats in cricket. The 29-year-old has been on good run scoring form in each and every format of the game. While Babar Azam’s ODI numbers are exemplary, one cannot discount his Test match feats.
Babar Azam has played 49 test matches and scored 3772 runs with an average just under 48. The stylish right-hander has hit nine centuries and 26 half-centuries so far in his test cricket career.
Here are the three best knocks played by Babar Azam in his Test match career so far.
#1. 196 against Australia – Karachi -2022
Chasing a massive 557 for an unlikely win, Pakistan had their backs against the wall. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan though had other plans against the strong Australian bowling attack.
Babar Azam scored 196 runs from 425 balls with the help of 21 fours and a six. His knock gave the crowd some hope as the Pakistanis tried to chase down the target deep on day five. Just when he looked good for a double ton, Nathan Lyon ended his innings as the Karachi crowd and Australian team gave him an amazing send-off.
#2. 161 against New Zealand – Karachi 2022
Babar Azam is fond of Karachi and his numbers at the National Stadium speaks for itself. In 2022, Babar Azam played another stellar knock, this time against New Zealand towards the end of the year.
The Pakistan skipper scored 161 runs from 363 balls with 15 fours and a six. The knock came in crucial circumstances after Pakistan were reduced to 110/4 at one stage. Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam then stitched a 196 runs stand for the 5th wicket to bail the team out of trouble. The match was a high scoring draw just like the game versus Australia.
#3. 136 versus England – Rawalpindi 2022
This was the series that England showed the world that Baz-Ball was in full flow. The English had scored 657 runs from 101 overs with four batters scoring tons. The onus was on Pakistan to make a statement and they did it by scoring 579 runs in their 1st dig.
The fight back was led by Babar Azam who took the fight to the opposition with 136 runs from 168 balls. Azam hit 19 fours and a six as two more Pakistani batters got to a century. England though won the game by 74 runs. Pakistan were all out for 268 while chasing 343 to win on a tricky fourth day pitch in Rawalpindi.