Pakistan fans should ‘prioritise’ winning over Babar Azam’s runs: Dean Jones

Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones believes that Pakistan fans should prioritise winning over enjoying the runs scored by prolific batsman Babar Azam.

A magnificent 139-run partnership between Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes powered England to an unlikely three-wicket win over Pakistan in a topsy-turvy first Test at Old Trafford on Saturday.

“Message for Pakistan fans.. yes it’s always great when Babar Azam scores runs.. but he will tell you.. winning is priority!!” Jones said in a tweet.

Babar scored 69 runs in the first innings of the opening Test against England in Manchester but was dismissed after scoring just five runs in the second innings.

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He was compared to India's Virat Kohli as one of the world's leading batsmen after his half-century on the first day of the Test match.

"If this lad was Virat Kohli, everyone would be talking about it but because it is Babar Azam, no one is talking about it," said former England captain Nasser Hussain while commentating for Sky Sports.

"He's young, he's elegant, he's got all the swagger," he added. "They keep going on about the 'Fab Four (Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and England captain Joe Root), it's the 'Fab Five' and Babar Azam is in that."

England will now try to complete their first series win over Pakistan in 10 years with victory in the second Test at Southampton starting on Thursday.