Pakistan batting star Babar Azam has ended his debut Big Bash League campaign with an unwanted record to his name, after registering the lowest strike rate in BBL history among batters who scored 200 or more runs in a single season.
According to Big Bash League batting data, there have been 350 instances of a player finishing a BBL season with at least 200 runs. Among that list, Babar’s strike rate of 103.06 for Sydney Sixers in BBL 15 sits at the bottom.
Babar scored 202 runs in 11 matches, facing 196 balls, with a highest score of 58 not out. While he contributed two half-centuries, his overall output was weighed down by frequent low scores and a run rate that became a major talking point throughout the season.
All-Time Lowest Strike Rate in a BBL Season
(min. 200 runs)
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | Strike Rate | 100 | 50 | 0 | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Sydney Sixers | 11 | 11 | 202 | 58* | 22.44 | 196 | 103.06 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 3 |
| Nathan McSweeney | Brisbane Heat | 9 | 9 | 222 | 73 | 27.75 | 211 | 105.21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| Jonathan Wells | Adelaide Strikers | 13 | 13 | 263 | 66 | 26.3 | 248 | 106.04 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 |
| Alex Ross | Brisbane Heat | 9 | 8 | 204 | 64 | 29.14 | 192 | 106.25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| Jake Weatherald | Adelaide Strikers | 14 | 13 | 213 | 51 | 17.75 | 199 | 107.03 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| Matt Renshaw | Adelaide Strikers | 14 | 14 | 207 | 35 | 15.92 | 193 | 107.25 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| Tim Ludeman | Adelaide Strikers | 9 | 9 | 256 | 57* | 36.57 | 238 | 107.56 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 2 |
| Joe Denly | Brisbane Heat | 12 | 12 | 223 | 50 | 18.58 | 207 | 107.72 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 5 |
| Jonathan Wells | Hobart Hurricanes | 7 | 7 | 201 | 72 | 33.5 | 184 | 109.23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| Jonathan Wells | Melbourne Renegades | 15 | 14 | 243 | 44 | 22.09 | 222 | 109.45 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
Babar arrived in Australia as the Sixers’ marquee overseas signing on a reported $420,000 platinum deal and remains one of the biggest names in world cricket, including being the leading run-scorer in T20I history.
However, questions around his scoring rate have followed him in recent years, including his omission from Pakistan’s T20 setup last year over concerns about tempo.
Babar began his BBL journey on a positive note, hitting fifties in wins over Sydney Thunder in December and Melbourne Renegades on New Year’s Day. But the momentum didn’t last. He was dismissed for single digits six times across 11 games and managed only three sixes in the tournament, feeding criticism about his approach in the power-hitting format.
The scrutiny intensified further when former Australia batter Mark Waugh suggested Sydney Sixers consider dropping Babar for their do-or-die finals match, arguing the side needed a more aggressive top-order option.
That decision, however, will not be required. The Sixers have confirmed Babar is returning to Pakistan to join preparations for upcoming international fixtures, making him unavailable for the remainder of the BBL finals.
Pakistan are scheduled to host Australia in a three-match T20 series starting January 29, and while the official squad has not yet been announced, Babar is widely expected to remain in contention as Pakistan build toward the T20 World Cup.
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