Babar Azam playfully offers Steve Smith batting during Boxing Day Test

In a light-hearted moment during the final innings of the Boxing Day Test, Pakistan batter Babar Azam shared a laugh with Steve Smith at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

As the players geared up, Babar Azam, facing off-spinner Nathan Lyon, found himself in a playful exchange with Steve Smith at slip. Babar, with a grin, extended his bat towards Smith, who responded with a comical gesture of joining his hands, declining the offer in good spirits.

Coming to the match, Pakistan faced a 79-run loss in the Test against Australia. The hosts set a target of 317, and despite notable contributions from Shan Masood (60) and Babar Azam (41), the visiting team fell short. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood dismantled the middle order, disrupting Pakistan’s chase.

Reflecting on the victory, Pat Cummins, the Australia captain and Player of the Match, expressed his love for playing at the Boxing Day Test, considering it the biggest match of the calendar. 

“Love playing here. Boxing Day – biggest Test match of the calendar. Love the build-up around Christmas. Last few years, the wickets have been nice.  Anything above 300 was the aim, thought we had enough to bowl at, a little bit tight. Steve’s and Marsh’s partnership really got us back in the game,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“We were behind for a little while, they were bowling well, had their tails up, wicket was tough. That was a huge partnership, got us back in the game, gave us something to defend. Even at 4/16, the dressing room was calm. We knew someone’s gonna step up. Real trust and support in the change room for each other. Every week, it feels like another match-winner stands up. Crazy year, lots of success on the field. I think we will look back and remember 2023 as one of the special ones. Got an extra day off, chill for a few days and get ready for the next Test,” he added.