Babar Azam came agonizingly close to ending his long Test century drought but was run out for 88 against West Indies in the second Test. Despite playing a composed and confident innings, Pakistan star batter missed another opportunity to convert a promising start into a much needed hundred.
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| Babar Azam walks back after being run out for 88 against West Indies. |
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam produced one of his most fluent innings in recent months but fell just 12 runs short of a century after being run out for 88 during the second Test against West Indies. The dismissal extended his wait for a Test hundred, a milestone he has not reached since December 2022.
Although the innings highlighted signs of improved confidence and shot selection, it also continued a frustrating pattern of promising starts ending before reaching three figures.
Babar Azam Shows Positive Signs Despite Missing a Century
Resuming the third day on 86, Babar Azam looked well positioned to register his first Test century in nearly four years. However, he added only two more runs before a sharp direct hit from Brandon King caught him short of his crease.
His 88-run knock was built on patience, excellent timing, and controlled stroke play. He rotated the strike effectively while finding boundaries with elegant shots around the wicket, providing stability to Pakistan batting lineup.
Despite falling short of a century, the innings demonstrated encouraging signs that his form may be improving.
How the Run Out Changed the Match
Run outs often prove costly in Test cricket, and Babar dismissal came at a crucial stage of Pakistan innings.
Instead of converting his well earned start into a match-defining century, Pakistan lost one of its key batters through a moment of miscommunication and outstanding fielding. The wicket shifted momentum and denied Babar the opportunity to add another landmark to his Test career.
Brandon King Brilliant Direct Hit
West Indies fielder Brandon King produced an accurate direct throw to dismiss Babar Azam. The run out reflected the importance of sharp fielding in modern Test cricket, where even a brief hesitation between the wickets can change the course of an innings.
Babar Azam Test Century Drought Explained
Babar Azam last scored a Test century in December 2022, when he played a magnificent innings of 161 against New Zealand in Karachi.
Since then, he has consistently shown glimpses of his class but has struggled to convert solid starts into centuries. While several half centuries have demonstrated his ability to build innings, the lack of hundreds has remained a major talking point among cricket fans and analysts.
Performance Since December 2022
Since his last Test century, Babar Azam has:
- Played 27 Test innings.
- Scored 987 runs.
- Averaged 36.55.
- Registered eight half centuries.
- Scored no Test centuries during this period.
These numbers indicate that while he continues to contribute valuable runs, converting fifties into hundreds has become his biggest challenge.
Career Milestones So Far
Even with his recent struggles, Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan finest modern batters.
His Test career currently includes:
- 9 Test centuries.
- 31 Test half centuries.
- Numerous match winning performances across international cricket.
His consistency over the years has established him among Pakistan leading batters, and many believe another Test century is only a matter of time.
Can Babar Azam End His Century Drought Soon?
Babar Azam innings against West Indies offered encouraging evidence that he is regaining rhythm at the crease. His composure, shot selection, and ability to build partnerships suggested that his batting form is moving in the right direction.
If he continues producing innings of similar quality, converting those starts into centuries could become the next step in his return to peak form.
Conclusion
Although Babar Azam narrowly missed a century after being run out for 88 against West Indies, his innings was filled with positive signs. While his Test century drought continues, the quality of his batting suggests he remains capable of producing big scores. Pakistan will hope their star batter can soon transform promising knocks into the centuries that have eluded him since 2022.