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Cricket

'Bobsy The King nahi kar paya' - Fans react to Babar Azam's poor Test stats in 2023, fails to fire in both innings of Boxing Day Test

His lean patch in red-ball cricket is very evident as he managed to score only 205 runs from 9 innings this year at a dismal average of 22.77.

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Mathew K
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Babar Azam (left), Josh Hazlewood (right) (Source: Twitter)

Babar Azam (left), Josh Hazlewood (right) (Source: Twitter)

This year has been a forgettable one for Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam. Apart from a century against Nepal, he failed as a batter and captain in the Asia Cup. A poor performance in both departments in the ODI World Cup, which subsequently led him to quit captaincy in all three formats. When it comes to the longer format of the game, the scenario is dire for the 29-year-old.

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Babar is currently in Australia for a three-match Test series, which is part of the 2023-25 ​​World Test Championship cycle (WTC). Pakistan have batted four innings so far and Babar has failed to show his mettle on all these occasions. The Men in Green suffered a massive 360-run defeat in the first Test in Perth, with the former captain contributing just 35 runs.

The story was no different for him in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In reply to Australia's first innings score of 318, Pakistan could only manage 264 runs and Babar's contribution was just 1 run. After dismissing Australia for 262 in the second innings, the visitors needed to chase down 317 runs to level the series 1-1. 

Babar failed to overcome his lean patch in 2023

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Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost both their openers early on. However, captain Shan Masood and Babar brought them back into the game by forming a crucial partnership for the third wicket. Pat Cummins broke a dangerous stand of 61 runs with the wicket of Masood and Babar was expected to steady the ship. The right-hander was going well but Josh Hazlewood dismissed him for 41 runs in the 41st over. 

With this, Babar ended 2023 without a single half-century in Test cricket. His lean patch in red-ball cricket is very evident as he managed to score only 205 runs from 9 innings this year at a dismal average of 22.77 with no half-centuries or centuries. 

Babar was expected to make a comeback as he no longer has the responsibility of leading the team in any format. The ongoing Test series is his maiden appearance after Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup. His poor show with the bat continued in Test cricket as well.

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Here's how fans reacted to Babar Azam's poor show against Australia: 

Australia Pakistan featured Babar Azam