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Tag: Babar Azam

  • ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Dream11 Team, Playing XIs, ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Today’s Match- England vs Pakistan- Final

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Dream11 Team, Playing XIs, ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Today’s Match- England vs Pakistan- Final

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Dream11 Team, Playing XIs, ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Today’s Match- England vs Pakistan Final. The final match between England and Pakistan will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    ENG vs PAK Today’s Match Timing and Streaming

    England vs Pakistan is going to start at 7 PM local time, which is equivalent to 1:30 PM IST. You can stream the match online on the Hotstar app and watch it live on the Star Sports channels on your television.

    ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head Record in T20

    England has dominated Pakistan in the T20 international so far. England has 18 matches against Pakistan in T20Is, while Pakistan has managed to come out on top on 10 occasions. In a recently concluded T20 series, England defeated Pakistan by 4-3. However, in that series, many main English players were not playing. England has also defeated Pakistan on both occasions the two teams have met in the tournament.

    ENG vs PAK Pitch Report of Today’s Match

    After a few sunny days in this World Cup, we’re back to where it all began. Melbourne is expected to experience a wet weekend, with a 90% chance of rain falling when the game begins. Monday has been designated as a reserve day, although rain will still be a concern. The MCG pitch has provided decent bounce and carry, although this tournament’s average first-innings score of 167 is the second-highest among venues.

    ENG vs PAK Probable Playing XIs

    PAK: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

    ENG: Jos Buttler (c&wk), Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips

    Top 3 Picks for ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Team

    1- Alex Hales: The right-handed top-order batter is expected to score a lot of runs against the Pakistani side. He has been in sublime touch throughout the tournament. Alex Hales will be eager to continue his great run of form against Pakistan. He is the first pick in the Dream11 prediction team for ENG vs PAK, as he can help your earn the maximum number of Dream11 points in this match.

    2- Jos Buttler: The right-handed opener showed us a brilliant knock against India in the significant semi-final. We believe he will show us that kind of batting again against Pakistan on Sunday. Since Jos Buttler is also an opener, he makes your chances of earning Dream11 points more feasible than others in the ENG vs PAK game.

    3- Mohammad Rizwan: The right-handed opener showed us a brilliant knock against New Zealand in the semi-final. We believe he will show us that kind of batting again against England on Sunday. Since Mohammad Rizwan is also an opener, he makes your chances of earning Dream11 points more feasible than others in the ENG vs PAK game.

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction- Best Captain and Vice-Captain Choices:

    Captain: Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan

    Vice-Captain: Babar Azam, Alex Hales

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction- Fantasy Cricket Team 1:

    Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan

    Batters: Alex Hales, Babar Azam, Harry Brook

    All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Shadab Khan, Sam Curran

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction- Fantasy Cricket Team 2:

    Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan

    Batters: Alex Hales, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed

    All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Shadab Khan, Sam Curran

    Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah

    ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today: Who will Win the Final Match in ICC T20 World Cup 202?

    Pakistan is expected to win the match and lift the trophy.

  • Pakistan rejoices as they thrash New Zealand and cruise to Melbourne

    This 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup has rightfully claimed the title of ‘best tournament ever’, giving us scripts that feel nothing less than a blockbuster!

    Experts and pundits had named Pakistan as one of the semi-finalists in the build up to the tournament as they boasted a bowling attack that would make batters tremble. New Zealand were not touted as favourites to enter the top 4 in a group that consisted of hosts Australia and the mighty England. Fast forward to the end of the super 12s and the Kiwis are the first team to qualify while Pakistan had their fate in the hands of the rest. A Kohli masterclass and crumbling defeat to England almost sealed their fate before the age-old belief: Qudrat ka Nizam came to their fore as World Cup contenders South Africa were outclassed by Netherlands, living up to their label of ‘chokers’. That meant that India and Pakistan were the two teams to qualify and the flight to Karachi was yet to come their way.

    ICC decided that the game will be played on a used pitch, the same that was used for the tournament opener in New Zealand vs Australia. The SCG wicket is generally slow and batters do find it difficult to score runs if there is no pace on the ball, owing to the dryness of the surface. Skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first in a bid to ask the Pakistan team to chase in a high-pressure knockout but they had a daunting bowling attack in front of them. Shaheen Afridi may not be at full tilt but the fast-bowling factory of Pakistan always produces champions. He sent Finn Allen back to the dressing room with just his third delivery, a full swinging delivery aimed at the pads and no inside edge to save him this time. Devon Conway looked like he meant business and was constantly looking to score, taking quick albeit risky singles which proved costly for the Kiwis as Shadab Khan’s golden arm accounted for Conway’s wicket, a moment that I believe tilted the game in Pakistan’s direction. World Cup sensation Glenn Phillips could not bring out his superman skills today as Nawaz cleverly outfoxed the batter who gave him a simple return catch and New Zealand were reeling at 49-3 after 8 overs.

    The Kiwi superstar of the previous edition Daryll Mitchell walked out and ensured that they did not lose anymore wickets and consolidated their position before choosing the perfect moment to attack the Pakistani bowlers. Kane Williamson also played his shots but soon fell in the pursuit to attack as Daryll Mitchell notched up his second half-century in world cup semi-finals. James Neesham applied the finishing touches and New Zealand ended their innings at a competitive total of 152/4.

    The Pakistani opening pair has been under a lot of scrutiny lately for their lack of intent and slow batting that pressurized the middle order to bail them out more often than not. In pre match conference, Matthew Hayden sent a stern message to the Kiwis when he said “As we all know about the weather, once there’s a lull, there’s often a storm that follows” and he could not have been truer. Babar Azam spent almost 3 hours batting the previous day in the heat and you could sense that something special is brewing. Pakistan opened their account with a boundary as Rizwan thrashed Boult through the covers.

     New Zealand were titled the ‘best fielding side of the tournament’ but failed to hold onto their chances come the big day. Rizwan was given a reprieve in the very first over as Conway failed to grab a tough chance and there were more than a couple of run-out chances missed. What ensued after was a flurry of boundaries by both batters and it seemed like they were batting on a different surface altogether. The sound off Babar’s bat could still be heard amongst the loud cheers of the crowd as Pakistan had their most successful powerplay of the tournament, ending it 55-0. The Kiwis looked completely clueless and the opening pair smashed them all over the park and registered their first stand of 100 in the tournament. Babar Azam reached a well deserved 50 and looked up to thank the heavens, seemingly putting his devils behind him.

    The new kid on the block, Mohammad Haris came out all guns blazing as he rocked his way to a quickfire thirty and ensured that his team are in prime position to book their tickets for the finals. With 2 runs needed of the final over, Southee ran in with determination only to bowl a wide and one could not help but rewind to Nawaz and the dreadful wide that shattered the hearts of millions but Qudrat ka Nizam had an entirely different dish ready to be served!

  • T20 World Cup- Watch Matthew Hayden Fiery Dressing Room Speech in Pakistan Dug Out

    Pakistan defied all expectations to defeat Bangladesh by five wickets and go to the T20 World Cup semifinals. The Netherlands’ stunning victory over South Africa gave Pakistan new life.

    Matthew Hayden with his never die attitude gave a fiery dressing room speech to boost the Pakistan team players.

    “If not for Dutch, perhaps, well not perhaps, we’re not here. Now we’re here and it’s powerful because no one wants to see us here and that’s the element of surprise that we have got the advantage of,” batting coach Matthew Hayden can be heard saying to Pakistan players.

    “There was that kind of thinking that potentially it was going to be a different result but the moment that Pakistan cricket fires off with intent and starts to reveal its teeth, they become a real threat. There will be no one in this world, in this competition that would want to face us right now, not one. They thought that they got rid of us. Now, they’re not going to get rid of us,” Hayden said.

    Earlier Babar Azam captain of Pakistan Cricket also helped his teammates with a motivational speech

    “We had belief. We got some light and we played to ensure we got into semis today. We were excited and nervous but it did not affect our performance. Whatever happens, we have to give 100% effort. The type of performance we have put in the last 2 games, we have to continue that form only. Whatever is the task in hand of a particular person, he should finish it,” Babar said in a video shared by Pakistan Cricket’s Twitter handle.

  • Pakistan ace the pace game as Proteas relationship with rain further crumbles

    The Proteas walked into the game as firm favorites after the exposure of Pakistanis batters’ weakness to pace and bounce. Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first, a sign of toughness and clear message of belief in his bowling arsenal to defend any target. 

    The openers once again struggled to come in terms with the fiery pace and seam, as both fell cheaply again, strengthening the worries at the top with the middle order finding itself in a bailout again. The score read 43-4 after 7 overs, with Iftikar and Nawaz steadied the ship, ensuring they didn’t lose any more wickets in a tense period of play. The middle order has carried the batting throughout the tournament and it rose to the occasion today, in a batting display of the highest quality. Iftikhar and Shadab broke loose and hammered their way to a competitive total of 185/9, with the help of rain and some shoddy fielding by the Proteas. Shadab Khan once again showed his batting prowess as he raced to the second fastest fifty by a Pakistani batter of just 20 balls and Iftikhar notched up his second fifty of the tournament, as he quietly walks under the radar and performs his role perfectly. 

    Rain threatened play continuously as the South African batters walked out with the mammoth chase ahead of them. Temba Bavuma has been under the scanner off late after a string of poor performances and the Pakistani bowling attack certainly packed a punch and a half but he turned his fortunes around after losing his partner cheaply, smacking Haris Rauf for a six, stroking his way to an eventful 36. Shadab Khan was brought into the atack and continued to have a great day, bagging two important wickets of Bavuma and Markaram before rain stopped play, bringing a disappointing halt to the game. 

    The DLS calculators were out and South Africa’s target was reduced to 142, effectively leaving them with 73 to chase in 5 overs. The Proteas needed to bat out of their skin to achieve such a high target with a weak batting line up and crumbled to some immaculate and precise bowling. Pakistan eventually applied their strangle and ended up winning the game by 33 runs, in a victory that would certainly send a wave of positive energy across the dressing room. 

    The Group of Death has lived up to its name with no team still qualifying and everything to play for in the last games, Group B has provided some entertaining and heartbreaking cricket. With all to play for, the last week of the group stages promises to be an enthralling experience

  • 7 Players Expected to Perform in IND vs PAK in Asia Cup 2022

    Recently, it was announced by Pakistan Cricket Board that Shaheen Shah Afridi would not be part of the Pakistani team that will face India and others in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 in UAE. Earlier in the month, the Board of Cricket Council of India had revealed that Jasprit Bumrah would also not feature in the Asia Cup 2022. The Indian pacer is ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. Both India and Pakistan will be without their premium fast bowler, which will make it hard for them to find the right balance. In their last meeting at T20 World Cup, Pakistan bossed India due to the fiery spell of Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, this time around, they will be counting on other bowlers to do the job. India will be hoping for payback for the loss in World Cup. Both teams will be counting on certain players to do the job for them at Asia Cup 2022 on 28th August.

    Here are 7 players expected to perform in India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022:

    1- Virat Kohli

    The legendary batter is going through the roughest phase of his career. It’s been over a thousand days since Virat Kohli raised his bat on the cricketing field after scoring a hundred. On countless occasions, he has looked good but, for one reason or another, has found ways of getting out. Kohli was the highest scorer for India when Pakistan ran through the Indian batting lineup at the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Indian team and the fans would be hoping that Virat Kohli finds his mojo back against the arch-rival Pakistan in the tournament.

    2- Babar Azam

    Babar Azam is perhaps the best batter in international cricket at the moment. He is scoring runs after runs for his team in almost every other game he plays. The Pakistani skipper remained unbeaten on 68* when his team defeated India in the World Cup for the first time. He will be expected to score loads of runs in the match at Asia Cup 2022.

    3- Mohammad Rizwan

    The pocket dynamite Mohammad Rizwan is highly underrated as a batter in the shortest format of the game. His attacking approach allows Babar to play his natural game. He was the one who took the game away from India in the first ten overs itself at the T20 World Cup. Rizwan was unbeaten on 79* in the glorious victory against India. Pakistan will be hoping that he once again repeats the heroics.

    4- Arshdeep Singh

    Arshdeep Singh, a rising left-arm pacer, will be under immense pressure to perform as the frontline bowler for India during the death overs. Arshdeep is known for his uncanny ability to not get hit for boundaries by bowling in the right areas at the right moment. He was excellent against West Indies, and India will be hoping that he does not let them feel the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in Asia Cup 2022 against Pakistan.

    Also Read: India’s Probable XI for India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022

    5- Rishabh Pant

     The left-handed wicketkeeper batter will be fighting for his place in the Indian T20I set-up against the veteran Dinesh Karthik, who has performed exceptionally well for India in the past two T20 series. Rishabh Pant is still India’s first-choice wicketkeeper due to his immense potential and the ability to hit long sixes in the T20s. This might be the last chance that Pant could make use of to prove that he should play ahead of Dinesh Karthik in the playing eleven.

    6- Rohit Sharma

    The Indian skipper is easily among the players who are expected to perform in India vs Pakistan clash at Asia Cup 2022. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Shaheen Afridi in the T20 World Cup. He will be eager to make a statement against Pakistan in Asia Cup. The Indian fans and team are hoping that the captain goes big in the upcoming match.

    7- KL Rahul

    Rohit’s partner at the top, KL Rahul, has returned to cricket after battling an injury for months. In the recent T20I against Zimbabwe, he played a forgetful inning, but that would not stop the Indian management from sending him to open with Rohit at the Asia Cup 2022. Rahul will be hoping to leave an impact against Pakistan in Asia Cup.

  • Watch: The Epic Funny Mix-Up between Babar Azam and Imam-ul-haq that led to a run-out

    In the second ODI between Pakistan and West Indies, Pakistani batters Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq were involved in an epic funny run-out. The run-out will remind you of past funny instances of Pakistani players.

    Babar Azam joined Imam-ul-Haq in the middle when the opening partnership for Pakistan was broken at a meagre score of 25. The duo of Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam did an excellent job before the hilarious run-out took place.

    Together they scored 120 runs in just 21.3 overs before Imam-ul-haw found himself stranded in the middle. Imam-ul-Haq was sent back to the pavilion after the unfortunate run-out due to the negligence of Babar Azam.

    The incident occurred in an over of Akeal Hosein. Imam-ul-Haq gently played the ball straight to mid-wicket, where the West Indian skipper Nicholas Pooran was raring to have a go at stumps.

    Imam-ul-Haq thought there was a single, and he quickly ran to ultimately find out that Babar Azam had never left his crease. The right-hander was watching the ball all along while Imam was gunning to get off strike.

    Imam did get off the strike but for permanently during the match. Seeing that Babar had not left his crease, Imam tried to run back to the keeper’s end. However, it was already too late as Pooran had collected the ball quickly to send it to the keeper.

    Imam was clearly too disappointed with the way he was dismissed. He swung his bat angrily in the air after he was run out. Imam scored 72 off 72 before his departure. It was his sixth consecutive score of fifty-plus in One Day Internationals.

    Here’s  the funny video of Imam-ul-Haq run-out:

     

    Also Read: PAK VS AUS: Babar and Rizwan’s Heroics Led to A Sensational Draw

  • 12 Family Ties in Cricket You Probably didn’t Know About

    Waugh, Pathan, Morkel, Akmal and Pandya brothers are some of the most famous cricketers known to be belonging to the same family in the international arena. However, several international cricketers have family connections in the cricketing world but are not as popular as the brother duos mentioned. Therefore, to satisfy the quirky cricketing bug in us, Cricreads have curated a list of cricketers who have family ties in cricket but are not known to many.

    Here are 12 lesser-known family ties in cricket:

    Faf du Plessis and Hardus Viljoen

    Faf du Plessis broke the internet when he announced in November 2019 at the toss in one of the matches of the Mzansi Super League that Hardus Viljoen was not part of the playing eleven due to his recent wedding to his sister Rhemi Rynners.

    Vikram Rathore and Ashish Kapoor

    Vikram Rathore, the current batting coach for the Indian cricket team, is married to the sister of former cricketer Ashish Kapoor. Rathore’s appointment as batting coach for India A was met with heavy controversy due to Ashish being a selector for the Under 19 cricket team.

    Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay

    Murali Vijay was involved in an affair with Karthik’s wife, Nikita. Karthik divorced Nikita in 2012 when she was pregnant with a boy, and soon Nikita tied the knot with Vijay. Both Karthik and Vijay have maintained silence on the issue, and Karthik got married to Dipika Pallikal in 2015.

    Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy

    Mitchell Starc married Alyssa Healy, niece of the great Ian Healy, in April 2016. Both Starc and Healy have represented Australia on the international level. They share a unique record of being the first married couple in cricket to represent their country in Test matches.

    Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah

    Mushfiqur Rahim has been accused of giving a spot to Mahmudullah in playing XI instead of other deserving players due to Mahumudullah being married to his sister Jannatul. Mahmudullah tied the knot with Rahim’s sister in 2011.

    Craig White and Darren Lehmann

    Lehmann married White’s sister Andrea in 1999 after spending time with her during his county stint in England. Lehmann played for Australia and often crossed paths with Craig White in international matches. White has dismissed him thrice in international cricket.

    Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath

    Gundappa Vishwanath is married to Kavita, the sister of Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar. Vishwanath and Gavaskar have the utmost respect for each other, which can be known from the fact that Gavaskar named his son Rohan Jaivishwa Gavaskar to pay respect to Vishwanath.

    Babar Azam and Akmal Brothers

    The Pakistani batting sensation Babar Azam is the cousin of the former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batters, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal. All three of them have represented Pakistan in several matches on the international stage.

    Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo

    The southpaw batter, Darren Bravo, is the half-brother of entertaining and compelling Dwayne Bravo. Both of them have represented West Indies in international cricket, but Bravo far exceeds his brother in terms of records and accolades in cricket.

    Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart

    Mark Butcher married his teammate Alec Stewart’s sister, Judy, but his extramarital affairs led to the downfall of his marriage and his relations with Stewart. Judy left Butcher and Stewart broke up his family ties with him.

    Chetan Sharma and Yashpal Sharma

    Chetan Sharma and Yashpal Sharma both donned the Indian colours at the international level. Yashpal was named crisis man for India by Sunil Gavaskar and perhaps relayed his ability to stay calm under pressure to his nephew Chetan.

    Ajay Jadeja and KS Ranjitsinhji

    Ajay Jadeja hails from the royal family of Nawanagar, and his birth name is Ajaysinhji Jadeja. KS Ranjisinhji has the famous Indian tournament Ranji trophy named after him and is considered the inventor of leg-glance in cricket.

     

    Also read: Top 10 Greatest Test Innings of All Time No One Can Forget

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Top 10 Greatest Test Innings of All Time No One Can Forget

    Test cricket is the ultimate Test of psychological warfare, physical endurance, emotional intelligence and grit and determination of an international cricketer. A cricketer who can prove his worth in the purest format of the game is considered a legend for generations to come. Many a great has donned the whites to produce some of the unimaginable majestic innings in the most enthralling format of cricket. To honour the legacy of such legends, Cricreads brings to you the 10 Test innings that redefined the meaning of persistence, resistance and perseverance.

    Here are the 10 greatest Test innings:

    VVS Laxman, 281 vs Australia, 2001

    VVS Laxman played a very very special innings at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to ruin the dreams of Steve Waugh to win 17 consecutive Test matches as captain. India conceded a lead of 274 runs in the 1st innings and was asked to follow on. No cricketing expert gave India any chance of making any comeback in the game. However, Laxman’s resolve to not surrender against the Australians produced one of the finest Test innings ever. On the back of Laxman’s 281, India declared on 657/7 to ultimately win the match by 171 runs.

    Kusal Perera, 153* vs South Africa, 2019

    Nobody gave a young Sri Lankan side any chance against the Proteas in the 2018/19 tour of Sri Lanka to South Africa. At the first Test in Durban, Sri Lanka was asked to chase 304 in the fourth innings against an attack consisting of Dale Steyn, Rabada and Philander. Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Kusal Perera did not let go of the belief to win. At one point, the scoreboard read 226/9, and all hope seemed to be lost, but Perera refused to surrender. He played majestic Test innings of 153* and formed a 78 runs stand for the last wicket to win the match for Sri Lanka out of nowhere.

    Ben Stokes, 135* vs Australia, 2019

    Australia was ahead by 1-0 in Ashes 2019 before the enthralling 3rd Test match took place. England was rolled out for only 67 runs by the Australians to secure a healthy lead of 112 runs. Australia batted again to set a massive target of 359 runs for England in the fourth innings. Ben Stokes formed an unbeaten 76 runs stand with Jack Leach for the last wicket to win the Test match for England out of thin air. Leach only contributed one run in the entire partnership.

    Brian Lara, 153* vs Australia, 1999

    Brian Lara has played numerous record-breaking Test innings; however, his knock at Bridgetown in the third Test of Australia tour to West Indies in 1999 is perhaps the best inning he has played. Chasing 308 runs in the fourth innings, West Indies failed to create partnerships of significant impact. But Lara kept one end intact until the end to guide his team to a historic win against a bowling line-up boasting of Warne, Macgrath and Healy.

    Don Bradman, 270 vs England, 1937

    Australia lost the first two Tests against England on their home soil in 1937 and was under immense pressure to prove their worth. It is rightly said, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.’ The don of cricket bossed the English cricket team to notch up 270 while batting at 7th position in the third inning of the Test match to put up a target of 689 runs, which ultimately resulted in Australia winning by 365 runs.

    Graham Gooch, 154* vs West Indies 1991

    Graham Gooch played exceptional Test innings of 154* against the star-studded bowling line-up of West Indies, consisting of Walsh, Ambrose and Marshall in 1991 to secure a victory against the heavyweights of cricket at the point of time. Gooch’s inning gave England the much-needed belief that Caribbeans could be countered in their peak at their home if the grit and determination did not fall apart.

    Hanif Mohammad, 337 vs West Indies, 1958

    Hanif Mohammad played the longer Test innings ever in cricket in terms of balls faced in 1958 against the West Indies. Pakistan successfully managed to draw a Test that seemed almost impossible to pull off when they conceded a lead of 473 runs and were asked to follow on. Mohammad displayed extraordinary resistance to take Pakistan to an unimaginable score of 657/8 and eventually drew the Test.

    Faf du Plessis, 110* vs Australia, 2012

    Faf du Plessis earned player of the match in his debut match for exhibiting extraordinary resilience. Faf played like a veteran already familiar with heavily pressurised dire situations in the game. Chasing Australia’s 430 runs, Faf realised that the Proteas had no chance of winning, and the best possible outcome for them would be to secure a draw. Du Plessis remained not out on 110* off 376 balls in a marathon Test inning that destroyed Australia’s hopes.

    Babar Azam, 196 vs Australia, 2022

    The most recent entry on the list is of the modern-day genius, Babar Azam. In the second Test of Australia tour to Pakistan at Karachi, the Kangaroos seemed determined to break the stalemate in the series. Australia set up a massive target of 506 runs for the Pakistani batters with 172 overs to scalp the 10 wickets. However, Babar did not crawl back and instead went for the win; he notched up 196 off 425 deliveries, ultimately securing a draw for Pakistan.

    Nathan Astle, 222 vs England, 2002

    Nathan Astle’s record of fastest ever double hundred in 153 deliveries in Test is still unbroken after the two decades. England set a colossal total of 550 runs for the Kiwis to chase in the fourth innings. Nathan Astle defied all odds when he came out guns blazing in the chase to smash English bowlers all around the park. His enterprising knock is perhaps the most entertaining Test inning in history. New Zealand ultimately fell short by 98 runs but Astle’s inning ushered a new era.

  • Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? Which one is the better batter?

    Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? Which one is the better batter?

    Both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are outstanding batters for their respective countries.  Kohli and Babar both bat at no. 3 for their respective countries in limited overs format and at no. 4 in test cricket. In this piece, we will analyze the stats of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in World Cricket forms.

    Virat Kohli’s three-and-a-half-year reign as the top-ranked One-Day International (ODI) batsman finally ended. After a stunning batting performance in South Africa, Babar Azam knocked him off the top position.

    How did Babar Azam Got Top position in ODI Batsman?

    Babar guided Pakistan to a 2-1 victory in an ODI tournament in South Africa in 2021, hitting 228 runs at 76 balls. However, last year, Virat Kohli captained India to a 2-1 win over England, making 129 runs at 43 balls. A gap in the Indian captain’s performance has aided Babar’s ascension up a mountain climb.

    Babar has now joined an elite group of Pakistani batsmen who have topped the ODI rankings, including Zaheer Abbas (1983), great batsman Javed Miandad (1988), and Mohammad Yousuf  (2003).

    The success means a great deal to Pakistan cricketers, which has struggled in the past few decades to re-invent itself in the shade of their famed neighbors and arch-nemesis India.

    Against all odds, Babar’s artful batsmanship has written a new chapter in cricket history. He is an inspiration to many hitters throughout the world, and his success has prompted comparisons to his Indian rival, Virat Kohli, a player who has continued to break bounds in this sport.

    The comparison is founded on their established standards to ensure consistency through their traditional batting techniques. It’s not simply the number of runs they score; it’s also their appealing styles that make people take notice.

    Virat Kohli and Babar Azam overall Batting records

    1. Virat Kohli: 33 years 95 days Old

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches99796250.39254*55.672728
    ODIs25812,29358.5318393.004364
    T20I95322752.0494*137.90029

    1. Babar Azam

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches37246143.1714354.93519
    ODIs83398556.9215889.571417
    T20I73262045.17122129.12125

    Looking at the overall figures, it’s clear that the far more seasoned Kohli has established standards of batsmanship, which Babar is attempting to achieve. While Kohli is already a legend in the game, Babar is establishing his name.

    What Do their recent scores suggest?

    Virat Kohli:

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches1590042.85254*55.5525
    ODIs38193755.3412394.7514
    T20I259926294*145.909

    Babar Azam:

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches12107659.7714366.146
    ODIs2615416712595.258
    T20I2590943.28122140.919

    We can see why Babar is causing a stir for all the correct reasons

    Just Kane Williamson (73.52), Marnus Labuschagne (66.81), Rohit Sharma (64.37), and Steve Smith (63.85) have scored more than Babar in Test cricket throughout this time (starting in 2019). In one-day internationals, Babar is unrivaled.

    In last 2 years Babar Azam is way ahead of Virat Kohli and is probably the best batter in World Cricket.

    Also Read- Virat Kohli Stats

    How successful was Virat Kohli after the same number of games as Babar Azam?

    Babar Azam:

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches31216744.2214356.5516
    ODIs80380856.83125*88.71317
    T20I51194048.50122131.6117

    Virat Kohli after the same number of Games played as Babar Azam

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches31213141.781415289
    ODIs80307945.9511883.3820
    T20I51185254.4790*136.4017

    It’s difficult to choose one above the other because the aforementioned matches in Kohli’s rankings across formats occurred at separate points in his game.

    Though Babar has a higher Test record at this point, he has only one century outside of the Deccan. In comparison, Kohli had already crushed rivals in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. 5 of Kohli’s eight centuries had come from overseas.

    In one-day internationals, Babar is the leader, although Kohli played his 80th match as a 23-year-old. Though his figures show a high level of consistency, he had yet to reach his peak and become the batting monster that he later became.

    Also Read- Babar Azam PSL Records & Stats: Total Matches, Runs, Average, Strike Rate, Centuries and More

    As a result, comparing similar ages will provide us with a more complete picture.

    When Babar was 26 years and 6 months old

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches31216744.2214356.5516
    ODIs80380856.83125*88.71317
    T20I51194048.50122131.6117

    When Virat Kohli was 26 years and 6 months old

    Match FormatMatches PlayedRuns

    Scored

    		AverageHighest ScoredStrike rate100s50s
    Test Matches33254746.316953.11010
    ODIs158653751.4718389.72233
    T20I2897246.2878*131.709

    In T20Is, the figures are comparable. Kohli had already won the World Cup Player of the Series award. India’s failure to play many T20Is did not help his argument. Kohli had previously captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for four IPL seasons.

    In terms of Tests, Kohli unquestionably has the upper hand. Kohli also has an advantage in the 50-to-100 conversion efficiency.

    Conclusion:

    Though Virat Kohli is trailing Babar Azam in some elements of T20I cricket, he is far ahead of him in others. In terms of statistics, Virat Kohli is a better batsman than his Pakistani opponent but Babar have also played lesser matches and is also younger than him.

    Read More: Top 7 Players Expected to Perform in India Vs West Indies T20I Series