In a latest interview former cricketer Ricky Ponting conversed about provocation met by Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam advising that a gap from the game could aid him in retrieving his form especially in test cricket. Ricky Ponting contrasted Babar’s case to that of Indian batsmen Virat Kohli who walked through an alike tough path but came back to form following a calculated break. Ponting highlighted that keeping away for a bit can sometimes revitalize a player’s perspective permitting them to recover, recharge and have a better preparation to execute their best.
Ponting framed that Babar’s recent difficulties, chiefly in the longer format, reflect those underwent by Kohli, who inadvertently discussed that stepping down channeled him for a transformation. Ponting suggested that Babar might take advantage by “locking the kit bag away” and stepping aside from the heat of International Cricket. This method, he feels, could assist Babar refocus his reliance and flow ,adding to amore strengthened game plan. Ponting’s understanding mirrors his believe in Babar’s capability to come back as a star performer, provide the needed mental rest.
Ricky Ponting in The ICC Review :
“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. 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,”
“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. 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. This might be exactly what Babar needs. Hopefully we get to see that in the back half of his career again,”
Babar Azam has not been able to score a half century in his recent 18 Test Innings tracing back to the end of 2022. The star batter have crouched a dismal of 20.70 in his foregoing nine Tests since the commencement of the 2023 season.