Babar Azam: “I really want to prove myself in Test cricket, so I will be doing my best to achieve my goals in this format”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has admitted that he is determined to prove to himself and everyone else that he is capable of excelling in Test cricket.

Azam noted that he has done well in ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals, where he is averaging 53.55 and 54.21 respectively.

Azam had a superb World Cup campaign, where he scored 474 runs in eight matches, which included a century and three fifties, at an average of 67.71.

He has maintained his excellent form in the 2019 Vitality Blast, which is England’s domestic Twenty20 competition.

Azam, who is representing Somerset, has accumulated 434 runs in nine matches, which includes a hundred and three fifties, at an average of 62 and a strike-rate of 152.81.

However, his Test figures aren’t as impressive as he has scored 1,235 runs in 21 matches, which includes a century and 11 fifties, at an average of 35.28.

With the 24-year-old preparing himself for Somerset’s County Championship match against Warkwickshire at Edgbaston on Sunday, he admitted that playing first-class cricket in England will enable him to put his skills to the test in the longer format.

“I definitely feel like there is more to come from me in First Class and Test cricket. I have done okay in the white-ball game recently, but I really want to prove myself in Test cricket, so I will be doing my best to achieve my goals in this format,” Azam told Somerset’s website.

“I’m really looking forward to playing a Specsavers County Championship match for Somerset at Edgbaston. Hopefully I can score a few runs and help Somerset win the match. I know the club [is] close to winning that first title, so fingers crossed I can play a small part in this.”

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