5 Batsmen who are likely to reach new heights in 2019

#2 Babar Azam

Babar Azam finally scored his maiden Test hundred in 2018

Just a brief look at the kind of shots Babar Azam plays is enough to convince anyone that this young right-hander from Pakistan possesses massive talent. The fact that he has many hundreds in ODI cricket already shows that he also has a great appetite.

Things weren’t equally smooth for Azam in Test cricket. He did play the odd good innings but the consistency he showed in ODIs wasn’t replicated in the longest format. But in 2018, the right-hander finally registered his maiden Test hundred.

Following it, he played a couple of impressive innings in South Africa that were of the highest quality. While the rest of the batting line-up crumbled in conditions that favored the seamers, Azam battled hard and defied the potent Proteas attack with solid technique and masterful stroke-play.

All this suggests that in the Tests too, Azam is finding the recipe for success. Keeping in mind the enormous talent he possesses and his prolificity in ODIs so far, he is a top contender for emerging as one of the leading batsmen in 2019.