Babar Azam Scores his First 50-plus Test Score After 2 Years: Stats You Need to Know!

After a long gap of 733 days, Babar Azam scored his 9th test century by concluding an embarrassing streak on Day 3 of the South Africa vs Pakistan test match at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. The former Pakistan captain scored an 85-ball-fifty that includes 9 fours at a strike rate of 58.82 in the 2nd innings of the first test in the 2-match test series.

Also, the 30-year-old became the first Pakistani batsman to accumulate 4,000-plus runs in all three formats of international cricket. 

It is a coincidence that the previous time Babar scored a 50-plus knock was against New Zealand in the Boxing Day Test at the National Stadium in Karachi in 2022. Even though his 280-ball-161 runs created a sensation at that time, the cricket world wasn’t aware that it would take another two years for the right-handed batter to hit a half-century.

During this period, Pakistan’s veteran batter managed to score just 370 runs in 19 innings averaging at 20.70, including his highest score of 41 against Australia in the Boxing Day test 2023.

Let’s explore the scores of Babar Azam in the past two years and his efforts in the recent test match to reach his 27th half-century.

How did Babar Azam Conclude his 2-Year Drought Period of Scoring a 50-plus Test Score?

After a lackluster performance of 4 runs from 11 balls (including 1 four) in Pakistan’s first innings that concluded with 211 in 57.3 overs, Babar Azam made a comeback in the 2nd innings. He registered his 27th fifty in his 56th test and maintained a 79-run partnership with Saud Shakeel, who scored a 113-ball-84-run knock (including 10 fours and 1 six). This resulted in Pakistan posting a total of 237 in 59.4 overs which set a target of 148 against the Proteas.

However, the fifties from Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel went in vain as South Africa managed to chase down the required total scoring 150-8 in 39.3 overs. Temba Bavuma’s led side secured a thrilling 2-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Most importantly, the South Africans sealed their berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final having confirmed their top two standings in the points table with another test match remaining in the cycle.

Babar Azam’s Struggling Period in Tests from 2022 to 2024: A Detailed List of His Scores in 19 Innings

Here is a complete list of Babar Azam’s scores in 19 test innings that have been played without even scoring a fifty after scoring 161 runs out of 280 balls (including 15 fours and 1 six) against the Kiwis in 2022:

5 Pakistani Batters without a Fifty in Tests for Consecutive Innings: Where Does Babar Azam Rank in the List?

Babar Azam’s 27th test half-century against South Africa helped him avoid equaling the former cricketer Alimuddin’s 20 innings streak without any fifty-plus score in tests and ranks second in the below list:

A Glimpse of Babar Azam’s Test Cricket Career: Year-Wise List of Runs and 50-Plus Scores

Since Babar Azam’s test debut against West Indies in October 2016, he played 56 matches and amassed 4,051 runs in 102 innings with 9 centuries and 27 half-centuries at an average of 43.56, including his career-best score of 196. So far, he struck 476 fours and 23 sixes maintaining a strike rate of 54.50. He ranks as the 12th Pakistani batter to score 4,000-plus runs in test cricket.

Here is a breakdown of Babar’s runs, hundreds, and fifties in test cricket from 2016 to 2024 tabulated below:

Conclusion:

After being excluded from the playing XI against England in the 2nd and 3rd tests, the Pakistani batter made a comeback to secure his position in the national team’s test squad. Finally, this half-century was crucial for Babar Azam as he was under the radar due to his consecutive poor performances.