Some big hundreds and Babar Azam will be among 'best players' like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith: Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey has backed him to be talked about among the best players in the world Pakistani cric
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Michael Hussey has backed him to be talked about among the best players in the world
Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam is undoubtedly his country's best player across formats. Having recently been given the charge to lead the Pakistan T20I side against Australia, the top-order batsman emerged as his side's top-scoring batsman in the series against Australia with a total of 115 runs. Although those runs couldn't help the visitors win even a single game against the ruthless Aussies. With the next assignment being a 2-match Test series Down Under, Babar hit a whopping 154 against Australia A in the 3-day practice Test to warm up in style. According to the ex-Aussie cricketer, Michael Hussey, however, Azam needs to hit such figures in big games to be considered among the best players in the world like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.
Pakistan brought an end to a fruitful Day 1 of the 3-day practice Test in Perth as Azam (157) and Asad Shafiq (119) both scored centuries to help their side put an impressive total of 336/3 on the board at stumps on Monday. Babar was thoroughly impressive in his innings and reached the three-figure mark in just 126 balls. He hit 24 boundaries in the process and played a key role in that 276-run partnership with Shafiq for the fourth wicket.
Although Azam has been compared with the likes of Kohli and Smith, especially when it comes to limited-overs formats, he hasn't yet done enough to be considered in the elite bracket as far as Test cricket is concerned. For Hussey, it would take a few hundreds in important games for Azam to bridge that gap.
"If Babar Azam can start hitting some big hundreds in Tests, he can be in that same conversation when we talk about the best players in the world, like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. He's that good, he's a brilliant player," Hussey said after witnessing Babar's heroics on Day 1 of the Practice Test.
Australian cricketer Travis Head also hailed Babar as an 'exceptionally good player' who converted his white-ball form into red-ball and posed a big challenge to the Australia A bowlers.
"He's an exceptionally good player. He's obviously translated that (white-ball) form nicely today," Head said at the end of day's play. "We'll think of some plans over the next couple of days and the next couple of weeks, I guess, for the guys playing the first Test against him."
The match will resume on Day 2, with Babar and Shafiq looking to build on the solid start. They might also look to give other Pakistani batsmen the opportunities to bat before asking their bowlers to test the Aussie batsmen.
Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam is undoubtedly his country's best player across formats. Having recently been given the charge to lead the Pakistan T20I side against Australia, the top-order batsman emerged as his side's top-scoring batsman in the series against Australia with a total of 115 runs. Although those runs couldn't help the visitors win even a single game against the ruthless Aussies. With the next assignment being a 2-match Test series Down Under, Babar hit a whopping 154 against Australia A in the 3-day practice Test to warm up in style. According to the ex-Aussie cricketer, Michael Hussey, however, Azam needs to hit such figures in big games to be considered among the best players in the world like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.
Pakistan brought an end to a fruitful Day 1 of the 3-day practice Test in Perth as Azam (157) and Asad Shafiq (119) both scored centuries to help their side put an impressive total of 336/3 on the board at stumps on Monday. Babar was thoroughly impressive in his innings and reached the three-figure mark in just 126 balls. He hit 24 boundaries in the process and played a key role in that 276-run partnership with Shafiq for the fourth wicket.
Although Azam has been compared with the likes of Kohli and Smith, especially when it comes to limited-overs formats, he hasn't yet done enough to be considered in the elite bracket as far as Test cricket is concerned. For Hussey, it would take a few hundreds in important games for Azam to bridge that gap.
"If Babar Azam can start hitting some big hundreds in Tests, he can be in that same conversation when we talk about the best players in the world, like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. He's that good, he's a brilliant player," Hussey said after witnessing Babar's heroics on Day 1 of the Practice Test.
Australian cricketer Travis Head also hailed Babar as an 'exceptionally good player' who converted his white-ball form into red-ball and posed a big challenge to the Australia A bowlers.
"He's an exceptionally good player. He's obviously translated that (white-ball) form nicely today," Head said at the end of day's play. "We'll think of some plans over the next couple of days and the next couple of weeks, I guess, for the guys playing the first Test against him."
The match will resume on Day 2, with Babar and Shafiq looking to build on the solid start. They might also look to give other Pakistani batsmen the opportunities to bat before asking their bowlers to test the Aussie batsmen.
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