Birminggham: Pakistan’s red-ball captain, Babar Azam, finally found some much-needed rhythm during the third Test against England at Edgbaston, striking a composed 76 in the second innings. While the elegant right-hander managed to break his string of single-digit scores on the ongoing tour, his wait for an elusive Test century continues.
Walking out to bat on Day 3 when Pakistan was steadily rebuilding at 125 for three, Babar looked positive from the outset. He quickly asserted himself at the crease, crafting crucial partnerships that frustrated the English bowling attack and brought his team back into the contest.
The Pakistani skipper first stitched together a solid 89-run stand for the fourth wicket alongside Shan Masood. After Masood departed for a well-made 95 in the post-lunch session, Babar anchored the innings alongside left-handed Saud Shakeel. The duo added another 64 runs at a brisk pace, steering the visitors to a far more stable position.
Babar’s fluent knock of 76 came off 103 deliveries and was studded with 11 boundaries and a towering six. He looked well on course to end his century drought, but English pacer Josh Tongue had other plans. In the 63rd over, Tongue dug in a sharp, well-directed short ball that brought about Babar’s downfall, ending his gritty stay at the crease and leaving Pakistan at 278 for five.
Despite missing out on the three-figure mark, this innings registered as Babar’s 34th half-century in Test cricket and his eighth fifty-plus score against England. The knock was a massive relief for the star batter, who had endured a torrid time earlier in the series. After missing the series opener at Headingley due to an injury, he registered dismal scores of eight and six in the second Test at Lord’s, followed by a paltry seven-run outing in the first innings at Edgbaston where he was also bowled by Tongue.
While his resilient 76 helped Pakistan mount a fighting comeback in the match, Babar’s Test century drought has now stretched further. His last hundred in the longest format of the game came back in December 2022, when he scored an unbeaten 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. Since then, he has managed nine half-centuries but has failed to convert them into massive scores.