AUS vs PAK: Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan - How Pakistan batters have fared against Australia in Tests?

Pakistan and Australia are set to play in Three Test matches which start from Thursday (December 14).

The Pakistan team will play their first international match after their World Cup 2023 debacle in India. They have made a radical change in their setup which started with the appointment of a new Test captain Shan Masood.

Former captain Babar Azam is included and is set to play a big part in this series. In the current WTC Cycle, Pakistan have a fantastic PCT and will be hoping to continue their merry run against the Aussies.

But their record in Tests in Australia is not encouraging at all as they have lost all of their Test matches against the Aussies down under since 1996. But to turn the table in the upcoming series, their batters will have to play out of their skins and put up a show against the formidable Australia bowling unit.

But how have their current batters performed against Australia in Tests? Let's have a look-

Babar Azam

Babar Azam has been a prolific run scorer for Pakistan in Tests against Australia. The former Pakistan captain has 799 runs against Australia in 10 Tests at an average of 44, but when it comes in matches in Australia, the average goes down to around 27. He has 1 century and a half-century in 10 innings when it comes to Tests in Australia.

Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq holds a good record against Australia in Tests, scoring 496 runs in an average excess of 55. He has scored 2 centuries and two fifties against the Aussies and is going to be a key player for the visitors.

So far, Imam has played only a solitary Test in Australia where he scored only 2 runs across two innings.

Abdullah Shafique

Abdullah Shafique has only played 3 Test matches against Australia, all of which came in the 2022 series in Pakistan.

He managed 397 runs in the three matches and scored at an average of 79.4 in that series. But can the young batter replicate his form in those bouncy pitches in Australia? That has to be seen.

Sarfaraz Ahmed

Pakistan's veteran Sarfaraz Ahmed will be a pillar for them in the middle order. The former Pakistan captain has scored 565 runs at an average of 56.5 against Australia, and he has been quite handy in Australia as well.

The 36-year-old scores an average of 38 in Australia and has amassed two half-centuries so far.

Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan has cemented his name as one of the most sought-after batters for Pakistan across all formats. Rizwan averages 45 against the Aussies in Tests, and he has so far been a prolific scorer in Australia as well. In the two Tests that Rizwan played in Australia in 2019, the batter has scored 177 runs, including a fantastic 95 in Brisbane.