Legendary Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting has suggested Pakistan batter Babar Azam to use Virat Kohli’s method to bounce back to form. Notably, Babar has been in terrible form off late as he was even recently rested by the selectors after the first Test of the series against England.
The former Pakistan captain hasn’t scored a half-century in the last 18 innings in Tests and also didn’t have a great time with the bat in the T20 World Cup 2024. On his return to the national side, he scored 37 (44) in the first ODI against Australia. Commenting on Babar’s poor form, Ponting said that Pakistan need to find a way to bring him back into their Test team.
“The biggest challenge is how they get Babar back into their side. They’ve got to find a way to get Babar back into form and back into their [Test] team. You know, when you look at (Babar’s) numbers, it’s been a bit like the stuff that we were talking about with Virat [Kohli] earlier on,” Ponting said on the ICC Review.
The former Australia captain further compared Babar’s slump with Virat Kohli’s and mentioned how the India star took himself away from the game to get into a good mindset.
“Sometimes – and I think Virat was on record saying this – that little bit of a break that he had, he took himself away from the game for a while to freshen up and sort out some things that he needed to sort out,” he added.
Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else: Ponting to Babar
Further speaking ahead, Ponting said how Babar should also adopt the same method and take a break to come back recharged.
“This might be exactly what Babar needs. Maybe Babar needs to get away for a while and stop trying too hard. Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else and then hopefully come back recharged, because we know at his best he’s as good as anyone going around. Hopefully we get to see that in the back half of his career again” Ponting said.
Babar will be eager to make a good comeback in the second ODI against Australia set to be played on Friday, November 8 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. Pakistan will also look to bounce back in the second game after losing the first ODI by two wickets.
