Babar Azam, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has slipped out of the top 10 in the latest ICC Test batsmen rankings for the first time in more than four and a half years. The 29-year-old batsman now finds himself in 12th place with 712 points, a drop of three positions that reflects his ongoing struggles with form.
A Struggling Streak
The decline in Babar’s ranking is particularly striking given his previous status as one of the top batsmen in the world. His current slump is highlighted by the fact that he has not scored a half-century in his last 16 Test innings. This alarming statistic raises concerns about his form, especially in light of the recent two-match Test series against Bangladesh, where he managed to accumulate only 64 runs across four innings at his home ground.
Babar’s inability to convert starts into substantial scores has been a significant factor in his ranking drop. As a player who has often been the backbone of the Pakistani batting lineup, his recent performances have left fans and analysts questioning his current form and mental state.
Pakistan’s Top Batsmen
As Babar struggles, Mohammad Rizwan remains the sole Pakistani batsman in the top 10, holding the 10th position by a narrow margin. This highlights the challenges faced by the Pakistani batting lineup, which relies heavily on its experienced players.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel, the third Pakistani batsman in the top 20, has also seen a decline, dropping seven spots to 20th place. In contrast, Salman Ali Agha has made a notable rise, climbing nine spots from 40th to 31st.
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Joe Root’s Dominance
In stark contrast to Babar’s decline, former England captain Joe Root has solidified his position at the top of the batting rankings. Following a remarkable performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, where he scored two centuries, Root has extended his lead over second-placed Kane Williamson. With 922 rating points, Root now boasts a 63-point advantage over Williamson, further establishing himself as one of the premier batsmen in the world.
Root’s achievements have not gone unnoticed, as he surpassed Alastair Cook’s record for the most Test centuries by an English player, reaching a remarkable tally of 34. His consistent performances have drawn praise from cricketing legends, with Cook himself hailing Root as a “genius” and “England’s greatest.”
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