RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBabar Azam Test centuries: Full career stats detailed as Pakistan captain on the verge of scoring first Test 100 in four years originally appeared on Cricket News .
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Babar Azam nears his first Test century in nearly four years against West Indies.
Shafique-Babar unbeaten 168-run stand puts Pakistan close to first-innings lead.
Babar's all-Test centuries listed.
Babar Azam closes in on maiden Test hundred since 2022 as Pakistan bat their way back
Pakistan's top order finally found its rhythm in this Test series, as they took firm control on day two of the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad.
An unbroken 168-run stand between captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique carried the side to within 78 runs of the hosts' first-innings total of 344.
Once Babar walked out to join Shafique, he made his attacking intent clear from the outset, as the pair added 100 runs off just 139 balls together.
When Babar faced Jayden Seales, a bowler who has troubled him in the past, early in his stay, he didn't hesitate to punish anything short or full with three boundaries in quick succession.
As the innings progressed, he grew increasingly assured, never once retreating into the defensive shell that has crept into his game lately.
Through the final hour of play, he focused on rotating strike and denied the West Indies bowlers any real opening.
Babar now finds himself just 14 runs short of what would be his first Test century since December 2022, a landmark that has eluded him for nearly four years.
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(Getty)
LISTED: Babar Azam's all-time Test centuries
Babar's journey to this point includes nine Test hundreds so far, starting with an unbeaten 127 against New Zealand in Dubai back in November 2018.
He followed that with a century against Australia at the Gabba in 2019, before a purple patch against Sri Lanka yielded twin hundreds in Rawalpindi and Karachi in December 2019.
He then added a century against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in February 2020, before producing his career-best 196 against Australia in Karachi in March 2022.
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His marathon 196 against Australia in March 2022, compiled off 425 balls in Karachi, stands as the highest score ever recorded by a captain batting in the fourth innings of a Test match, and it single-handedly rescued Pakistan from defeat that day.
Sri Lanka have been his favourite opponents in whites, with three centuries scored against them, followed by two apiece against Australia and New Zealand, and one each against England and Bangladesh.
Five of his nine centuries have come on home soil in Pakistan, one in the UAE on neutral territory, and two away from home, in Australia and Sri Lanka respectively.
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No. Score Against Venue Ground Type Date Match Result 1 127* New Zealand Dubai International Stadium, Dubai Neutral November 24, 2018 Won 2 104 Australia The Gabba, Brisbane Away November 21, 2019 Lost 3 102* Sri Lanka Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Home December 11, 2019 Drawn 4 100* Sri Lanka National Stadium, Karachi Home December 19, 2019 Won 5 143 Bangladesh Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Home February 7, 2020 Won 6 196 Australia National Stadium, Karachi Home March 12, 2022 Drawn 7 119 Sri Lanka Galle International Stadium, Galle Away July 16, 2022 Won 8 136 England Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Home December 1, 2022 Lost 9 161 New Zealand National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi Home December 26, 2022 Drawn MORE: Gambhir vs senior players: Trouble brewing in Indian dressing room
A century here would mean more than just numbers on a scoreboard
If Babar Azam reached three figures in this innings, it would carry weight well beyond ending a personal drought. Pakistan's batting has looked fragile for stretches over the past two years, and having their captain rediscover fluency at the crease, rather than simply grinding out starts, sends an important signal to the rest of the dressing room about what's possible against quality pace attacks like the one West Indies currently possess.
What's particularly encouraging is the manner of this innings rather than just the runs themselves. Babar has often been criticised in recent times for slipping into overly cautious batting when his confidence dips, so watching him counter-attack a bowler who has previously dismissed him regularly, Jayden Seales, suggests a shift in mindset rather than a stroke of luck.
Babar's potential hundred won't erase the broader questions around Pakistan's recent overseas form, but it would go a long way toward restoring faith in his captaincy and his batting at a time when both have faced mounting scrutiny.
Sometimes a single innings can shift the tone of an entire tour, and this feels like one of those moments where the numbers matter less than the manner in which they're achieved.
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