Babar Azam on Thursday became the first Pakistani batter to score 4000 runs or more in all three formats of cricket. The former national team captain achieved the feat on day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion. (Day 1 Blog | More Cricket News)
Azam, 30, entered the match on 3997 runs in 101 innings (55 matches). And the right-handed batter from Lahore flicked the first ball he faced, off Corbin Bosch, for a four to breach the 4000-run mark in Test cricket. He has nine Test centuries.
However, Azam soon departed for an 11-ball 4, falling to Dane Paterson in the 18th over. He already has 5957 runs in 120 innings (123 matches) with 19 centuries and 4223 runs in 121 innings (128 matches) with three tons in ODIs and T20Is, respectively.
He thus became the third batter to achieve the feat, joining the Indian duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma Stats
Test: 4290 runs in 114 innings (66 matches) with one double hundred, 12 centuries and 18 fifties.
ODI: 10866 runs in 257 innings (265 matches) with three double hundreds, 31 centuries and 57 fifties.
T20I: 4231 runs in 151 innings (159 matches) with five centuries and 32 fifties.
Virat Kohli Stats
Test: 9166 runs in 206 innings (121 matches) with seven double hundreds, 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
ODI: 13906 runs in 283 innings (295 matches) with 50 centuries and 72 fifties.
T20I: 4188 runs in 117 innings (125 matches) with one century and 38 fifties.
Both the Indian batters are also in Boxing Day Test action as India fight Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. At the close of play on day 1 of the fourth Test in Melbourne, Australia were 311/6 in 86.
The opening day's play was dominated by debutant Sam Konstas's stunning fifty. The 19-year-old opener, Australia men's youngest Test batting debutant since 1953, hit 60 from 65 balls, with the help of six fours and two sixes.
He was involved in a tussle, bumping shoulders during the change-over after the end of the 10th over.
