ISLAMABAD – Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has lauded Babar Azamas Pakistan’s danger man ahead of the upcoming Test series beginningThursday.
Babar is the No.3 ranked batsman in ODI’s as well as being the No1 T20batsman, however, despite his modest career Test batting average of 35.28,Ponting is backing the 25-year-old right-hander to take a major leap in thecoming years.
“We haven’t seen the best of him yet,” he said.
“Twenty-odd Tests for an average of 35 – he’s better than that. He averages54 in one-day cricket at a strike-rate of about 90.
“He’s a very, very classy player.
“He’s a really exciting talent and probably the guy I’m looking forward toseeing the most this summer. I’ve seen the Aussies a lot and I’ve seen alot of the Kiwis, but I’m really excited to see him. “He could beanything,” the former skipper said as quoted by cricket.com.au
Babar has already shown his class in Pakistan’s tour matches in the lead-upto the Gabba Test, with a classy 157 against Australia A last week.
The classy right-hander was a part of Pakistan’s touring party to Australiathree years ago, but struggled in the No.3 spot, and Ponting said the keyto Babar’s success was keeping him away from the new ball.
“What they’ve tried with him before obviously hasn’t worked (because) whenyou watch him bat, he’s better than a 35 average,” he said.
“If they can massage him and help him through a little bit, keep him awayfrom the new ball a little bit in Australia, then I think they’ll get thebest out of him.”