Islamabad, December 29, 2023, The Europe Today: During 2023, Babar Azam faced considerable challenges in Test cricket, notably experiencing a downturn in his batting performance, particularly in the red-ball format. Throughout 2023, he encountered difficulties in securing a Test half-century, a notable departure from his consistent performances since his debut.
This marked the first instance in his career that he failed to achieve this milestone in a calendar year, reflecting a testing period for the talented batsman. The struggles persisted in the second Test against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Despite Pakistan facing a formidable 317-run target set by Australia, Babar managed to score 41 runs before falling victim to Josh Hazlewood’s delivery, succumbing to a clean bowled dismissal. These challenges have undoubtedly contributed to a reflective period for Babar Azam in the realm of Test cricket.
This perpetuated a pattern observed in the initial innings, where Babar Azam faced a comparable dismissal at the hands of Pat Cummins, managing to score only one run. The right-handed batsman’s misjudgment of the delivery led to the disturbance of his stumps, signifying his dismissal through being bowled out.
This sequence of challenges with the bat in both the match and the broader context of the year underscored the difficulties Babar encountered in maintaining consistent performance.
Concluding the year, the former Pakistan captain amassed a total of 204 runs across nine innings, with an average of 22.66, further highlighting the testing nature of his contributions with the bat throughout the specified period.
