Is it realistic to think Babar Azam can take over Joe Root as the best batter a the Test team?
Is it realistic to think Babar Azam: The ICC Test Rankings for batters show that Joe Root is still at the top. But is Babar Azam in line to take his place? Here are the thoughts of Mahela Jayawardene.
Mahela Jayawardene’s Take on Babar
Mahela Jayawardene, a legendary former batsman for Sri Lanka, thinks that the current captain of Pakistan’s team, Babar Azam, is the man who can take the top spot in the ICC Test Rankings for batters. However, a former English captain and top-order batter, Joe Root, is in command of the top spot right now. The latter has been at the top of the Test rankings since June, while the Englishman has had a good World Test Championship so far and has been in great shape under his new coach, Brendon McCullum, who is in charge of the English Test team. Moreover, Root has made the most runs in Tests since the beginning of the decade, so he was rightly named the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year for 2021.
Babar might be the guy – Jayawardene.
When asked about it on The ICC Review, Jayawardene said, “Tough one! I would say Babar Azam has an opportunity. He’s been consistent in all three formats, which shows in his rankings. He’s a naturally gifted player who plays in all conditions. He’s got the game to adapt as well. It depends on the cricket number, who’s playing, when and how much. But Babar might be the guy.”
Babar is the only player who has been in the top three of the batters’ rankings in all formats, as well as at the top of the rankings in all limited-overs formats. He is third in the longest format of the game right now. “T20Is and ODIs, it is a tough one to hold on to because there are a lot of good players who have to be consistent,” Jayawardene declared.
“I would put my money on him [Azam] at least for a little while to hold to all three, but there are some good quality players around who will keep pushing him,” added Jayawardene. When asked what makes Babar such a great player, Jayawardene said that the time the Pakistani captain spent at the crease impressed him the most.
“[I] think it is just the technique, the time he [Azam] has and the composure out there in the middle. He’s not rattled at any time. Whether he plays T20Is, ODIs or Tests, he adjusts pretty brilliantly. Joe in Test cricket is the same. He knows what he needs to do. He can keep the tempo when he wants to and bats to what the conditions offer. Babar has that same quality, so that’s why he’s been so consistent in all three formats,” described Jayawardene.
What’s next for them?
Both are famous cricket players, and in December, when England goes to Pakistan for three Tests, they will play each other. Root could keep his No. 1 spot in the upcoming series against South Africa, while Babar might wait to get there until the England series at home later this year.