"Lock the kit bag away for a while and think about something else" - Ricky Ponting advices Babar Azam to follow Virat Kohli to rediscover Test form

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels out-of-form Pakistan batter Babar Azam could take the Virat Kohli route to rediscover his groove in Tests. Babar has been woefully short of runs in the red-ball format, resulting in his exclusion from the side in the recent home series against England.

The 30-year-old played the first Test in which Pakistan suffered an innings defeat and a sixth consecutive overall Test loss. He was then left out of the squad for the next two Tests (rested).

Pakistan won both games to complete a 2-1 series win and a first home Test series victory since early 2021.

Meanwhile, Indian great Virat Kohli endured a similar barren patch in 2022, following which he took time off before enjoying a tremendous 2023 season.

Ponting believes replicating Kohli could help rejuvenate Babar's Test career. He said in the ICC Review (via ICC official website):

"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."

Ponting added:

"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 has not scored a half-century in his last 18 Test innings, dating back to the end of 2022. The champion batter has averaged a dismal 20.70 in his last nine Tests since the start of the 2023 season.

"He's the sort of player that I love watching" - Ricky Ponting on Mohammad Rizwan

CRICKET: NOV 04 Men's One Day International cricket series - Source: Getty

Ricky Ponting praised Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan for his ability to take the game on and his deep care to help the team achieve success.

The 32-year-old got off to a rough start in his captaincy stint, with Pakistan losing a close first ODI to Australia by two wickets in Melbourne on November 4.

"He's (Rizwan) the sort of player that I love watching. Aggressive player that takes the game on, and wears his heart on his sleeve a little bit. I reckon you can see he gets quite emotional out on the field, out on the ground as well, which I think is a good thing. It tends to show that you really care about what you're doing and what your team's trying to achieve," Ponting said in the ICC Review (via ICC official website).

He added:

"So the proof will be in the pudding. I mean, we won't know (until they) give him a decent run at it. They obviously feel he's the right man for here and now. So I think in a few months time, or maybe in a few weeks time, even here in Australia with the one-dayers, the T20Is coming up, we might have a better idea in three or four weeks time."

Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in their ongoing tour of Australia — Rizwan's first assignment as captain. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on November 8.