Babar Azam admits his performance in Test cricket has dipped

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has admitted that his performances in the longest format of the game have left much to be desired. Azam’s last century in Test cricket was recorded against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in February last year. The cricketer scored a few half-centuries in his next couple of innings. However, the 26-year-old does not believe his performance has met expectations.

“I think the way our middle order is performing, Rizwan is doing well, Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam, it is in front of you. Think he is doing really well and taking responsibility,” said Azam in a virtual press conference ahead of the first Test against West Indies.

“Not performing the way I should”

“I can mention this that I am not performing the way I should be; the way people want me to do well. In the last year or so, my performance in Test cricket has dipped but the edge that I have is that other players have taken responsibility. If you look at Rizwan, we gave him a chance in T20Is and he applied that and now he is one of the best players. He is performing in T20Is as well as Test cricket. It is not that I should be relaxed, I know my responsibility and people have expectations from me. And now when I came here, I did my certain drills here and the things that I wanted I have applied them here and Inshallah I will do well in this Test match,” he added.

Pakistan have been playing a lot of white-ball cricket in recent times. The originally scheduled three-match Test series has been reduced to two Tests.

“Pakistan should be playing more Test cricket”

“In this year, we have got very few Test matches to play but this is because T20 cricket and white-ball cricket has been given preference since T20 World Cup will be played this year. So in my opinion, we have got very few Tests. In my opinion we should be playing more Test cricket. Because worldwide, Test cricket is the one to look out for and it is best form of cricket.”

The Test series between Pakistan and West Indies will witness the Dukes variety of a red-ball being used, rather than a Kookaburra. Azam said the Dukes ball swings and seams throughout, though practicing against it made things easier.

“There is a lot of difference between the two. It swings throughout, even in England it swings and seams throughout. I don’t think it is that difficult. In Pakistan, grays ball was used and the players had decent exposure against it. The more you play it in practice, the easier it is. But sometimes there is a period where you get a lot of runs and you have to wait for that. The more closer to the body you play the Dukes ball, the better off you will be,” he concluded.

Neighbours India are currently battling it out against England in a five-match Test series.