Babar Azam reaches 2,000 WTC runs as captain, century drought extends to 40 innings

Pakistan captain Babar Azam achieved a historic milestone but fell agonisingly short of ending his prolonged century drought, dismissed for 76 in the second innings of the third Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The right-hander became only the fourth cricketer overall and the second Asian skipper to score 2,000 runs in the World Test Championship as captain, yet remains stranded 24 runs away from his first Test hundred in more than three years.

Historic Milestone Amid Prolonged Struggle

The 31-year-old reached the 2,000-run mark in his 41st innings as captain in the World Test Championship, making him the third-fastest player to achieve the feat. He joins an elite group that includes England's Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne. Root and Karunaratne share the record for the fastest to the milestone, both reaching it in 40 innings, whilst Stokes, who played as an all-rounder until his retirement earlier this year, required 61 knocks.

Babar's innings took his tally in the World Test Championship as captain to 2,015 runs. However, the achievement was overshadowed by his failure to convert what appeared a certain century into three figures, extending his barren run to 40 innings without a Test hundred. His previous century had come in December 2022 against New Zealand, leaving the seasoned batter without breaching the three-figure mark for an extended period.

Dismissal Exposes Technical Weakness

The dismissal came just when a century seemed inevitable, with Babar falling to a short delivery bowled by Josh Tongue. The pacer delivered a short ball down the leg side, and Babar was unable to avoid it. Attempting to glide the ball, the Pakistan captain only managed to get a glove on it, and wicketkeeper Jordon Cox made no mistake with the catch.

Former England pacer Stuart Broad, commentating on the match, was highly critical of the shot selection. "Showing a real weakness in his game as he did at Lord's against Jofra Archer. Just a really poor shot, that was really bad," Broad said on air.

A Fighting Knock After Series of Failures

Despite the disappointing end, Babar's 76-run knock off 103 balls, studded with 11 fours and one six, provided Pakistan with a rare moment of celebration on what has been a lacklustre tour of England. This was his first half-century of the three-Test series, coming after he had missed the series opener at Headingley due to an injury sustained in the warm-up match against PCC Select.

The visitors had already lost the opening two Tests before the Edgbaston encounter, a dismal performance that prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board to make wholesale changes, replacing seven players and two coaches in the dressing room.

Babar had entered the third Test under considerable pressure, having scored just 8 and 6 in the previous Test at Lord's. His struggles continued in the first innings at Edgbaston, where he lasted merely 18 balls in the middle, scoring just 5 runs. He looked completely out of sorts against an in-swinger delivery bowled by Tongue, beaten by pace as his stumps were rattled.

Second Innings Resurgence

However, Babar walked out to bat with solid intent in Pakistan's second innings, scoring boundaries at will. He was aided by the pitch getting better for batters, and he made the most of the improved conditions. The Pakistan captain came to bat at 125 for 3 in the 31st over, when Shan Masood and Azan Awais had seen off the tricky new ball phase.

He received some easy deliveries from the English pacers early on and collected multiple boundaries to get into his groove. Babar stitched a solid 89-run stand with Masood for the fourth wicket, with the partnership helping Pakistan post more than 200 runs in the Test series for the first time. It took the visitors six innings to achieve this milestone. The Pakistan captain reached his half-century off 76 balls.

England's Short-Ball Barrage

As Babar settled in, the English pacers, especially Jofra Archer, increasingly troubled him with late movement from the older ball. A tactical shift from England then completely unsettled the Pakistan captain, the hosts went short relentlessly with a packed field behind the wicket.

He initially survived when caught at deep third off Archer, but the fielder, Theo Wylie, stepped on the cushion while taking the catch, resulting in the ball being ruled a six, Babar's first maximum of the innings. Several more bouncers troubled him before Tongue finally got him caught fine, courtesy of an excellent catch from Cox.

Mounting Pressure and Criticism

Ahead of the Test against England, Babar had faced significant criticism for not doing enough when the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to send seven players back home. Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar had hit out at the batter, questioning his captaincy and leadership qualities.

"I think many of the issues stem from the fact that he (Babar) is unable to make the right calls. Had it been me, everyone would have known what would have happened. That is a very simple thing," Akhtar said.

"I think Babar's personality is visible in his captaincy, decision making and his game, which is why he is now struggling badly," he added.

Masood's Near-Miss

In the same innings, Shan Masood also missed out on a well-deserved century after he was dismissed for 95 off the bowling of Gus Atkinson. The partnership between Babar and Masood had given Pakistan hope of posting a competitive total in their second innings, but both batters fell short of reaching three figures.

Elite Company in World Test Championship

Babar's achievement of 2,000 runs as captain in the World Test Championship places him in elite company. The list comprises England's Joe Root, who is also playing in the Edgbaston Test, Ben Stokes, Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne, and now Babar. As the second Asian captain to reach this landmark, Babar's statistical accomplishment stands in stark contrast to his recent form with the bat.

Root and Karunaratne are tied at the top for the fastest to reach 2,000 runs as captain in the World Test Championship, both achieving the feat in 40 innings. Babar's 41 innings places him just one behind the joint leaders. Stokes, who retired from international cricket earlier this year after playing as an all-rounder, took significantly longer, 61 innings, to reach the milestone.

Technical Concerns Persist

The manner of Babar's dismissal at Edgbaston echoed his struggles at Lord's against Archer, suggesting a recurring technical issue against the short ball. Broad's assessment that the shot "showed a real weakness in his game" highlighted a vulnerability that opposing teams are now exploiting systematically.

The short delivery down leg from Tongue was not a particularly threatening ball, but Babar's inability to avoid it or play it safely underscored the mental and technical challenges he faces. His attempt to glide the ball resulted only in a faint edge, giving Cox a regulation catch behind the stumps.

Tour Context and Squad Changes

The third Test at Edgbaston represented Pakistan's final opportunity to salvage something from a disastrous tour of England. Having already conceded the series after losses in the first two Tests, the Pakistan Cricket Board had taken the drastic step of sending seven players and two coaches home, reshaping the squad for the final match.

Babar's own participation in the series had been interrupted by injury, he missed the series opener at Headingley after sustaining an injury in the warm-up match against PCC Select. His return for the second Test at Lord's proved unsuccessful, with scores of just 8 and 6 piling pressure on the captain.

Statistical Significance

Babar's 76 at Edgbaston represented his highest score of the series and his first substantive contribution with the bat. The innings contained 11 boundaries and one six against Archer, demonstrating his class when settled. The six came when Wylie stepped on the boundary cushion while attempting to complete a catch, turning what appeared to be a dismissal into a maximum.

The knock also helped Pakistan achieve a modest milestone, posting more than 200 runs in an innings for the first time in the Test series, a feat that had taken six innings to accomplish. The 89-run partnership between Babar and Masood for the fourth wicket was instrumental in reaching this total.

Century Drought Deepens

Perhaps most significantly, the dismissal extended Babar's wait for a Test century to 40 innings. His last three-figure score came against New Zealand in December 2022, more than three years ago. For a batsman of Babar's calibre and standing in world cricket, such an extended drought is unusual and concerning.

The fact that he appeared set for the hundred, looking comfortable at the crease and having already reached 76, makes the dismissal even more frustrating. With just 24 runs needed to reach three figures, Babar's failure to capitalise on a strong position will likely intensify scrutiny of his form and shot selection.

Looking Ahead

As Pakistan's captain and premier batsman, Babar's form remains central to the team's fortunes. The criticism from former players like Shoaib Akhtar, questioning both his captaincy and his personal batting form, reflects growing impatience within Pakistan cricket circles. Akhtar's assertion that Babar's personality is visible in his captaincy, decision-making and batting suggests deeper concerns about his leadership style.

The historic achievement of becoming only the second Asian captain to score 2,000 runs in the World Test Championship demonstrates Babar's quality and consistency over an extended period. However, his inability to convert starts into big scores, particularly his ongoing century drought, threatens to overshadow these accomplishments.

The innings of 76 at Edgbaston showed that Babar retains the technical ability and class that made him one of the world's leading batsmen. His willingness to attack from the outset in the second innings, scoring boundaries at will on an improving pitch, suggested a return to form. The challenge now is to eliminate the technical weakness against short bowling that led to his dismissal and to convert promising starts into match-defining hundreds.

For a player who had been a model of consistency and a reliable accumulator of runs, the current phase represents the most challenging period of Babar's career. The combination of poor personal form, captaincy pressure, and Pakistan's broader struggles on the tour of England have created a difficult environment. His performance at Edgbaston, while incomplete, at least offered evidence that he retains the ability to contribute meaningfully with the bat.