Babar Azam stands today as one of the premier cricketers on the global stage, with an undeniable array of skills and a trophy case filled with remarkable achievements. His prowess on the cricket field leaves no room for doubt that, upon the conclusion of Babar Azam career stats, he will be hailed as one of the legendary figures of Pakistani cricket.
Yet, despite his notable successes, Babar often finds himself at the center of various criticisms. In today’s analysis, we will explore the major critiques leveled against Babar Azam to determine whether the scrutiny he faces is warranted. Join us as we unravel the facts behind the criticisms and shed light on the true stature of this cricketing maestro.
Number 1 – Babar Azam’s Performance Across Strong and Weak Teams:
One common criticism directed at Babar Azam is that he scores runs predominantly against weaker teams. Critics argue that Babar Azam’s performances are mostly impressive against smaller cricketing nations. However, this claim does not hold up under scrutiny. If we examine Babar Azam’s total runs in all formats, he has played 311 international innings for Pakistan and amassed 13,325 runs with an average of 48.45. Of these runs, 11,132 have been scored against the top 8 cricketing teams, meaning that 84% of his total international runs have been made against stronger opponents.
In comparison, when we look at the statistics of the other players in the ‘Fab 5’, only Virat Kohli, with 96% of his runs against the top teams, surpasses Babar Azam in this regard. The percentages for Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root are 75.51%, 79.90%, and 78.33%, respectively.
Furthermore, Babar has been awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ or ‘Player of the Series’ 31 times so far in his career. Impressively, out of these 31 awards, 25 were earned in matches against top teams.
These statistics effectively dispel the notion that Babar Azam only performs well against weaker teams.
(Note: The top 8 teams include Australia, South Africa, India, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.)
Number 2 – Babar Azam vs. The ‘Fab 4’: A Home and Away Runs Analysis
Another frequent criticism aimed at Babar Azam is the claim that he only excels on flat wickets. However, the reality refutes this notion quite clearly. Babar Azma’s career stats show that he has accumulated approximately 69% of his career runs in foreign conditions, whereas only 31% of his runs have been scored in home conditions. This distribution of runs, favoring performances abroad, is the most impressive among the elite group of cricketers known as the ‘Fab 5’. For comparison, Virat Kohli has made nearly 45% of his runs at home, Steve Smith has 48%, Kane Williamson 50%, and Joe Root 51%.
What makes Babar’s achievement even more noteworthy is the context of these performances. The pitches and conditions in which Babar Azam has played achieve a career average of 48.45, the average for other batters in the same conditions is only 35.88.
These key statistics strongly contradict and effectively dispel the myth that Babar Azam is just a player suited for flat wickets. His records show a versatile and robust capability to score runs in diverse and challenging cricketing environments.
Also Read
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series 2024: Changes, Schedule, and Expectations
Number 3 – Evaluating Babar Azam’s Performance in ICC Events
Babar Azam is often criticized for not being a big tournament player. However, if we examine Babar Azam career stats and performance in ICC events, he has scored 1,354 runs across 35 innings at an average of 45.13. It’s true that his average does slightly drop in ICC events. Despite this minor dip, he still significantly outperforms other Pakistani cricket legends in terms of his average in these major events.
When comparing him specifically to the ‘Fab 5’, Virat Kohli is the only batter whose average actually improves in ICC events. Kane Williamson’s batting average also slightly increases, reaching 49.13, whereas both Steve Smith and Joe Root experience a drop in their averages during ICC events, with Smith averaging 37.15 and Root 47.61, both lower than their overall international career averages.
Also Read
Top 10 T20 Leagues: Ranked by Prize Money
In conclusion, the evidence presented throughout this analysis strongly supports the claim that Babar Azam stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world of cricket today. Despite facing regular criticisms—whether about performing mainly against weaker teams, thriving only on flat pitches, or not showing up in big tournaments—Babar Azam Career stats tell a different story. His superior performances in foreign conditions and his ability to maintain high averages even in ICC events highlight his exceptional talent and adaptability.
As Babar continues to build on his already remarkable career, it is clear that he is not just another cricketer; he is on track to becoming a legendary figure in Pakistani cricket history. His journey reflects not only his mastery of the game but also his resilience in the face of undue criticism. By the time he hangs up his boots, Babar Azam will undoubtedly be celebrated as one of the luminaries of the sport, having firmly etched his name among the cricketing greats of his era.
