It has been 33 innings since the last time Babar Azam scored a century in Tests.
33 innings without a hundred
These 33 innings have spanned across roughly three and a half years. Babar was still enjoying his first stint as a captain when he last scored a century. Pakistan had not failed to make the knockouts of four consecutive ICC events. Plenty has changed since then, and plenty more continues to do so, but Babar still has to witness a page turning in his Test cricket fortunes.
In his first innings as a re-appointed captain, he could only accumulate 23 runs. Since 2022, when he last scored that wretched hundred against New Zealand, the one that brought his century-scoring to a halt, there have been several instances where he looked pretty comfortable.
He got off to decent starts. Perfectly timed his shot. Established his dominance. Hardly looked troubled at all. But despite all that, he found himself returning for an uninspiring figure.
Double-minded Babar
It followed the exact same script against West Indies on day two of the opening Test as well. Batting with Shan Masood, who scored more boundaries off edges than the sweet spot, Babar looked pristine, perhaps more than usual next to his batting partner.
He definitely did not look like a batter who would hesitantly nick the ball through to the keeper at a point when his team is sailing smoothly. But Babar managed to do both. He looked flawless while also managing to find a flaw convincing enough to end his stay.
Such good starts going down the drain, and that becoming a pattern, is what brings Babar back to square one each time. Just as it has been doing since 2022.
ALSO READ:
https://www.ipl.com/cricket/news/moqims-3-21-goes-in-vain-as-perth-register-another-defeat-in-gsl-2026/