“He's Been Consistent In All Three Formats” – Mahela Jayawardene Feels Babar Azam Would Dethrone Joe Root As Top Test Batter
Published - 11 Aug 2022, 01:04 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:11 AM
Legendary Sri Lanka National Cricket Team batter Mahela Jayawardene has opined that the Pakistan National Cricket Team captain Babar Azam would dethrone the former England National Cricket Team captain Joe Root as the top-ranked Test batter. He said that the Pakistan skipper is a “naturally gifted player” and he has been consistent in all three formats.
Former England National Cricket Team captain Joe Root is currently the No.1 ranked batter in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings with 923 rating points. Following him on the list are Australian Marnus Labuschagne, who has 885 rating points, and Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who has 879 rating points. Notably, Babar is also the No.1 ranked batter in T20Is and ODIs.
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During the latest episode of The ICC Review, host Sanjana Ganesan asked Jayawardene about the player he thinks would dethrone Root at the top of the Test Rankings. He replied:
“Tough one!. I would say Babar Azam has an opportunity. He’s been consistent in all three formats and it shows in his rankings. He’s a naturally gifted player, plays in all conditions, he’s got the game to adapt as well. It depends on the amount of cricket, who’s playing when and how much but the Babar might be the guy. T20Is and ODIs, it is tough one to hold on to because there are a lot of good players who have to be consistent.”
Jayawardene further said that the Pakistan captain batted brilliantly in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. Former Sri Lanka captain also said that he enjoyed the battle between Babar Azam and Sri Lanka spin bowling sensation Prabath Jayasuriya during the two-match Test series. He elaborated:
“As long as he can be that, because he has a very good role to play in that Pakistan setup – they have batters to bat around him, so he can play his own game – he should be able to hold on to that and at the same time, push himself to get better.
“He batted really well in Sri Lanka. I think Prabath (Jayasuriya) was his nemesis – he got him three times out of the four innings. That was a very good battle to watch. Babar got a really good hundred in the first Test match.
“He’s always going to push himself to get better. Seen in a couple of his interviews recently that it is his goal as well to be No.1 across the table. There’s no harm in challenging yourself to get there. ”
Being the captain as well, he has taken responsibility and performed – Mahela Jayawardene
Legendary Sri Lanka batter said that Pakistan captain Babar has taken responsibility and led the team from the front. He asserted:
“Being the captain as well, he has taken responsibility and performed, which is great to see. (It’s) Not an easy thing to do.
“I would put my money on him at least for a little while to hold to all three but there are some good quality players around who will keep pushing him.”
Jayawardene was further asked what makes Babar a special player, to which he replied by saying that the batter has got good technique and composure. He explained:
“(I) think it is just the technique, the time that he has and the composure that he has out there in the middle. He’s not rattled at any time, whether he plays T20Is, ODIs or Tests, he adjusts quite brilliantly.
“Joe (Root) in Test cricket is the same. He knows what he needs to do, he can the tempo when he wants to, bats to what the conditions offer. Babar has that same quality, so that’s why he’s been so consistent in all three formats.”
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