Top 3 Test Innings Of Babar Azam

image-lqdif1fkBabar Azam (X.xom)

In cricket, the Test format holds the utmost importance, not only because it was the first format that was played but because it tests the players during the course of five days and extracts every ounce of strength from the players. 

Not every player possesses the skills or ability to be playing the longest format of the game. There are only a few who we call all-format players, Babar Azam from Pakistan is no different as he has shown the temperament to ace every facet of the game and has been one of a kind in this Pakistan set-up. Babar Azam boasts incredible stats and is the pillar of the Pakistan batting lineup.

In the last few years, Pakistan have struggled to produce batters and the right-hander Babar Azam is the only one, who has helped them win games in each format. In a 50-match career, Babar has aggregated over 3800 runs in 90 innings and has been quite successful against teams like Australia and New Zealand. 

Let's have a look at the top three Test innings from the bat of Babar Azam.

Top 3 Test Innings Of Babar Azam

196 (425) vs Australia, Karachi, 2022

image-lqdianxpBabar Azam's 196 against Australia (X.com)

Babar Azam is one of the most elegant-looking batters in the world among the current players and possesses the ability to stay long in the middle. In 2022, when Pakistan hosted a Test series for Australia after a long time, in the second Test of the series, the right-hander smashed his highest score in the longest format and avoided a humiliating defeat against the Aussies in Karachi. 

Australia posted a mammoth total of 559 runs in the first innings and bowled out Pakistan for just 148. To extract some results, the Aussies declared after scoring 97 in the second innings, posting a target of 506 runs with almost two days left. All the Aussies had to do was, bowl them out in 170 overs. But Babar Azam stood tall in between the Aussies and the win, scoring 196 runs off 425 deliveries and not only drawing the game but managing to instil hope of winning in fans before he was dismissed for 196. 


127 (263) vs New Zealand, Dubai, 2018

image-lqdibhm9Babar Azam's maiden century in 2018

Back in 2018, Pakistan hosted a three-match Test series in the United Arab Emirates for New Zealand. The hosts lost the first Test and could not afford to lose the second one as it would have cost them the series. In the second Test, Pakistan batted first and managed to post a mammoth score of 418. 

The right-hander, Babar Azam stitched a partnership with Harris Sohail of 186 runs and took Pakistan's score to 418. Babar with his class, smashed his maiden Test century and stayed not out scoring 127 off 263 deliveries until the Pakistan team declared. Due to this huge total, Pakistan did not have to bat again as Yasir Shah went on to pick 14 wickets to put this win in the hands of the Pakistan team. 


104 (173) vs Australia, Brisbane, 2019

image-lqdicen4Babar Azam's 104 against Australia

It is believed that a player who can ace the challenging conditions of Australia and England, can be known as a great batter and this innings of Babar Azam in the first Test against Australia in 2019, helped him to be considered one of the modern-day greats. The right-hander slammed a hundred in the Brisbane Test which must be close to his heart and his fans as well. 

Pakistan while Batting first posted a total of just 240 runs and in reply, Australia slammed 580 runs. All they had to do was bowl out Pakistan around the score of 300 and close the match with an inning. In the second innings of the Pakistan, when the team was falling apart being 94 for 5, Babar stood tall and went on to slam 104 runs stitching a partnership with Rizwan. Although the team lost, but it could have been a lot more than a miserable defeat.