Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam ended his prolonged Test form slump by scoring a half-century during the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. This was his first fifty in the format since December 2022, taking 19 innings to reach the milestone again. However, his innings ended at 50, with Marco Jansen dismissing him before he could convert it into a three-figure score.
A Well-Crafted Fifty
Babar’s 80-ball knock included nine boundaries, showcasing his trademark stroke play. Batting at a strike rate of 58.82, he spent 85 balls at the crease in Pakistan’s second innings, demonstrating resilience and grit. His last Test fifty-plus score was a commanding 161 against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.
A Period of Struggle
Babar’s form slump since December 2022 saw him failing to cross the 50-run mark in 19 consecutive Test innings. During this period, his highest score was a 79-ball 41 against Australia in Melbourne in 2023. His run of low scores included 14, 24, 27, 13, 24, 39, 21, 14, 1, 41, 26, 23, 0, 22, 31, 11, 30, 5, and 4.
The lean patch also led to his exclusion from Pakistan’s Test squad after scoring 30 and 5 against England in the opening game of their three-match series. He was dropped for the final two matches, which Pakistan ultimately won 2-1.
Achieving a Historic Milestone
During this match against South Africa, Babar also became the first Pakistani batter to surpass 4,000 runs across all three formats. He joined an elite group of 12 Pakistani cricketers to reach the 4,000-run milestone in Test cricket. Babar now has 9 Test centuries to his name.
In his overall international career, Babar has scored 4,223 runs in 128 T20Is and 5,957 runs in ODIs, underlining his consistency in shorter formats.
Match Context: A Crucial Battle for Both Teams
The ongoing Test in Centurion remains finely poised, with both teams battling for supremacy. South Africa had opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and a victory in this match would secure their qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, regardless of the second Test’s outcome.
As Pakistan fights to stay in the match, Babar’s return to form will undoubtedly boost their morale, though the team will be hoping for bigger contributions from their skipper in the future.
