Comment: Select band of triple-centurions, and Azhar’s now one of them

The monumental triple-hundred is 29th in 140 years of Test cricket history and only fourth by a Pakistani batsman

KARACHI: From an early age Azhar Ali’s tenacity and mental strength stood out. The Lahore-born started his professional career as a leg-spinner before graduating into a productive first-class batsman and eventually breaking into the Test team six years ago.

Defying odds and producing results in adversity have been Azhar’s hallmark and once again his ability to produce a monumental performance was superbly showcased in his epic triple century against the West Indies in Dubai.

Only days ago his place and his ability to lead the ODI side was being questioned in the media circles with many pundits calling for his axe, however, Azhar hit back with a serene century in the last ODI of the series and followed that up with a remarkable triple century to silence his critics.

While the West Indies attack in the ongoing series is arguably their worst ever, Azhar’s monumental triple-hundred is a feat that cannot be taken lightly, merely the 29th in 140 years of Test cricket history.



Azhar’s 658-minute stay at the crease speaks volumes about his concentration levels and obduracy. Facing a total of 469 balls, Azhar upped the tempo of his innings as he neared the 300-run milestone, with the last 100 runs coming at almost a run a ball.

Azhar scored 104 runs in boundaries — 23 fours and two sixes — besides picking up 198 runs by accumulating ones, twos and threes; a clear testament of his stamina and endurance.

Fourth Pakistani triple-centurion

Azhar is now part of a select band of Pakistan cricketers to have posted a triple century in Test cricket with only Hanif Mohammad, Inzamamul Haq and Younus Khan among those to have crossed the 300-run mark in their distinguished Test careers.

Hanif — 337 at Barbados in 1958 — produced arguably the greatest ever match saving innings in Test history as Pakistan staved off a certain defeat due to the heroics of the diminutive Karachi batsman.



His 970-minute occupation of the batting crease is still a Test record for the longest ever innings; the performance singlehandedly raised Hanif’s stature to the level of some of the greats of the game.

Inzamam became Pakistan’s second Test triple-centurion after a 45-year wait. The burly middle-order batsman from Multan smashed the New Zealand bowlers all around the Gaddafi Stadium in sweltering heat during his 436-ball 329-run effort, studded with nine sixes and 38 fours.

Unlike Azhar, more than 60% of Inzamam’s runs were scored via boundaries, giving further weightage to his alleged dislike for running between wickets.



Younus Khan was Pakistan’s last triple-centurion before Azhar; his 313 off 586 balls at the National Stadium of Karachi was an outstanding achievement despite the incredibly placid nature of the pitch where Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 644 was topped by Pakistan’s 765, their highest ever Test score.

Meanwhile a total of six Australians, five Englishmen, four West Indians, four Pakistanis, three Sri Lankans and a batsman each from New Zealand and India have amassed 300-plus scores in Test cricket.

Brian Lara, Don Bradman, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the only batsmen to have made two triple centuries each.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2016.

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