As the curtains draw on 2023, Babar Azam, the talented middle-order batsman from Pakistan, finds himself grappling with a less-than-ideal cricketing narrative. The second Test against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed another challenging outing for Azam, adding to a series of struggles that have defined his red-ball cricket performances this year.
Facing the formidable Australian pace attack, Babar Azam was dismissed on low numbers in both innings of the Test, falling victim to the precision of Josh Hazlewood and the relentless accuracy of Pat Cummins. Scoring 41 in the second innings and a mere one run in the first, Azam’s struggle for consistency with the bat continued, reflecting in his lack of substantial contributions throughout 2023.
A significant and rather unwanted record now stands against Babar Azam name. For the first time since his debut, Azam has failed to register a single half-century in a calendar year. The statistics for his Test performances in 2023 present a stark picture:
- Innings: 9
- Runs: 204
- Average: 22.7
- 100s/50s: 0
Babar Azam struggles in Test
Pakistan played a total of five Test matches in the year, including the ongoing series against Australia. The journey began with a draw against New Zealand, where Babar Azam, donning the captain’s hat, managed scores of 24 and 27.
A two-match series victory against Sri Lanka followed in July 2023, but Babar Azam struggle with the bat persisted. Scoring 13 and 24 in the first Test and contributing 39 runs in the second, Azam couldn’t find the form that has made him a vital asset for Pakistan.
The current tour of Australia only intensified Babar Azam challenges. In the first Test, he scored 21 and 14 runs, adding to the woes of a year that presented formidable challenges for the Pakistani cricket team. Despite Azam’s leadership, Pakistan fell short in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 and couldn’t secure a Test series victory at home.
The struggles with the bat culminated in Azam’s decision to step down as captain, paving the way for Shan Masood to assume leadership responsibilities in Test cricket. Meanwhile, in T20Is, star pacer Shaheen Afridi took over as captain. The year concludes with uncertainty around the ODI leadership, as no formal announcement has been made.
As the cricketing world reflects on the challenges faced by Pakistan and its key player, Babar Azam, the talented batsman looks toward 2024 with the hope of rediscovering his form and contributing substantially to his team’s success.
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