PAK vs AUS Live: Babar Azam new face in FAB-FIVE- The so-called FAB-FOUR now has to be expanded to FAB-FIVE, making way for Babar Azam. After stamping authority in ODIs and T20Is, Pakistan captain has ended his nearly two years of wait to slam a century when Pakistan required him the most. Follow Pakistan vs Australia Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
In a lion-hearted effort with the bat, the Pakistani skipper batted 425 balls and scored 196 innings. His valiant knock in the fourth innings has almost helped Pakistan draw the ongoing Karachi Test match. This epic knock has also left his rivals behind for time being.
PAK vs AUS Live: Babar Azam shatters record in Karachi
- Babar Azam has faced 425 balls in the fourth innings of the Karachi Test
- Only on three occasions has a batter faced more balls in the fourth innings
- Babar Azam also surpassed Michael Atherton’s score of 185 scored as a captain in the fourth innings
- He now has the highest-ever score as captain in the fourth innings of a Test match
- Azam finally got out on 196 off 425 balls. This was also the highest-ever score recorded by him in 39 Test matches
Barring Joe Root, his three other rivals including Virat Kohli are struggling to get to the three-figure mark. Virat Kohli extended his century drought to 841 days while Steve Smith has no century in the last 13 innings. Kane Williamson is also struggling with his elbow injury.
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
Overnight at 101, Babar Azam put Pakistan in cruise control with World record score of 187 not out. It was the highest score by any captain in 4th innings. In the process, he broke Michael Atherton’srecord of unbeaten 185 against South Africa in 1995.
PAK vs AUS Live Score: Babar-Rizwan put Pak in cruise control, Follow Day 5 Live Updates
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
While Babar Azam has been in fantastic form in ODI and T20, the same wasn’t the case in Test cricket. In fact, his last Test century was back in February 2020 against Bangladesh. But against a tough Australian bowling attack, he prevailed in style.
Interestingly, only Joe Root and Babar Azam have been able to score centuries in Test while the other three haven’t scored any in the last 12 months.
Who are the Fab 5?
- Virat Kohli
- Joe Root
- Steve Smith
- Kane Williamson
- Babar Azam *
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
The crowd cheers, the lion roars. @babarazam258 owns the day. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/ndM0RNWPTG
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 15, 2022
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
Virat Kohli’s last Test century was back in 2019 against Bangladesh and since then, he has endured a poor run of form. He hasn’t scored a century in 52 innings.
Steve Smith’s last Test century came in January 2021 against India when he scored 131 in Sydney. But since then despite going close to the three-figure mark, he has not been able to score a century in the last 13 innings.
#BabarAzam𓃵 masterclass! #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/cA5N0JhYvb
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 16, 2022
Kane Williamson has been struggling with a persistent elbow problem and has missed a lot of Tests including the ones against Bangladesh at home. His last Test century was a double hundred against Pakistan at Christchurch back in January 2021. But in the subsequent innings, he managed only one fifty, against India in the World Test Championship final.
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
Joe Root vs Babar Azam: The race is now on between Joe Root and Babar Azam. After claiming the ICC Test player of the year, Joe Root has continued his great form, slamming a century against West Indies.
| No | Player | Country | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
| 1 | Joe Root | England | 10 | 19 | 1008 | 180* | 56.00 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 9 | 16 | 496 | 79 | 31.00 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 6* | 10 | 466 | 102* | 58.25 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Steve Smith | Australia | 7* | 10 | 394 | 93 | 39.40 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 1 | 2 | 42 | 24 | 21.00 | 0 | 0 |
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
In the World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle, Joe Root is the only player to cross the 1000-run mark and has averaged 56.00 including four centuries and as many fifties. Kane Williamson has played only one match.
As for Pakistan’s match against Australia. Babar Azam’s fighting century and Abdullah Shafique’s gritty unbeaten 71 kept Pakistan in the hunt. On the final day in Karachi, Pakistan will need to score 314 runs to win while Australia will need eight wickets.
PAK vs AUS LIVE: No Kohli, Williamson or Smith, Babar Azam joins Joe Root in World’s Best Test Batsman race with WORLD RECORD in Karachi
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