Babar Azam has replaced Joe Root from ‘Fab Four’ – Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan reckons Pakistan talisman batsman Babar Azam has done enough in the last 18 months to replace Joe Root from the ‘Fab four’. Azam has been in fine form in the last couple of years in the Test matches. In fact, the cricket boffins generally praise the ‘Fab four’ which has batsmen like Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson.

Furthermore, former England captain Nasser Hussain earlier stated that it should be ‘Fab five’ and Babar Azam should be part of the elite group of batsmen.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam has an average of more than 65 in the last 18 months in the Test fold and he has ticked the right boxes in all the three forms of the game. The flamboyant batsman has an average of more than 50 in the limited overs format whereas he has an average of 45 in the Test format.

On the other hand, Joe Root hasn’t been in the best of forms in the last 18 months. The England captain has scored 1044 runs in his last 15 Test matches at an average of 41.76. Thus, Root’s numbers have significantly gone down and his overall average is 48.30.

Babar Azam did struggle in the initial phase of his innings against England but soon he was able to find the impetus. The right-hander played some glorious shots in his undefeated knock of 69 runs and looked in complete control. The flamboyant 25-year old batsman used his feet to get to the pitch of the ball against Dom Bess and played against the off-spinner with aplomb.

Michael Vaughan said while talking to Cricbuzz, “We saw that glorious cover drive that he got and then he danced down and whacked one over mid-wicket. You keep talking about the ‘Big Four’ and I keep hearing about this, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Joe Root, they kind of mention him in that top four but I am not too sure about that at this stage. I reckon Babar Azam has totally shifted Joe Root out of the way as we speak because of his record off late”.

Babar Azam has been in terrific form in the last few months and he would like to continue the same against England. If Azam has a good series, then there is a decent chance that Pakistan can go past England.

Babar Azam has scored 1850 runs in 26 Test matches and he has shown all the promise to go a long way in his career. The right-hander has proved his mettle and he can get runs in all the conditions as there is hardly any chink in his armour.