Babar Azam scored his 13th ODI century in just his 76th innings, bettering the mark set by greats like Hashim Amla and Virat Kohli.
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In modern batting, there are four acknowledged greats in cricket. Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root are the modern masters of the game. However, for quite some time, there has been one more player who has been scoring big runs but has gone under the radar. His exploits have made many fans modify their thoughts that in the current era, it is not the ‘Fab 4’ of batting but the ‘Fab 5’. When Pakistan skipper Babar Azam scored a century in the first ODI against South Africa in Centurion, he achieved a new record.
Babar’s ton was his 13th in ODIs and it has taken him only 76 innings to reach the mark. This is the quickest-ever in ODIs. Babar has scored 13 ODI tons in 10 innings less than Kohli, who hit 13 tons in 86 innings. Babar is in an elite group. Previously, the record of fastest to 13 ODI tons was in 83 innings by former South Africa great Hashim Amla. Kohli and Quinton de Kock took 86 innings. Australia’s David Warner achieved the feat in 91 innings.
Babar averages 56.66 in ODIs, which is slightly behind Kohli who has a whopping average of over 59. The century against South Africa was the 27-year-old’s first against them. Babar has the most centuries against the West Indies with five. There was a purple patch for Babar in 2016 when he scored 120,123 and 117 in three ODIs against the West Indies in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. In the SENA (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and England) countries, Babar has four centuries, with none in New Zealand.
Babar’s century helped Pakistan achieve a narrow three-wicket win against South Africa in the first ODI at Centurion. Rassie van der Dussen scored his maiden ton and South Africa notched up 273/6. In response, Babar and Imam-ul-Haq shared a 177-run stand but both fell in quick succession. Pakistan almost botched up the run-chase with three runs needed off the final over but they held their nerve to register a three-wicket win.
Babar has shown that he belongs right up there when it comes to greatness in batting. His ODI average of 56 and T20 average of 48 make him a bonafide limited overs great. His Test average of 44 is the lowest in comparison to the Fab 4. However, it is only a matter of time before he seals his spot as one of the greats.
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