Wellpitched.com : Azhar Ali needs just 61 runs to overtake Kohli in 2016 runs chart

Azhar Ali has been one of the most under-rated players of recent times thanks to his classic style of play. The batsman almost singlehandedly took Pakistan to a 400+ score in the Boxing day Test yesterday and is now only 60 runs behind Virat Kohli. Although Ali has played three innings more than Kohli to get here, the fact that Pakistan have played all their matches in foreign conditions lends weight to his achievement.

From wellpitched.com:

"First Double Century by a Pakistan Batsman in Australia: Azhar Ali's unbeaten 205 in the boxing day test at the MCG is the highest score by a Pakistani batsman in Australia in 33 years and earned him the honor of becoming the first ever batsman from Pakistan to hit a double century in Australia."

1,000 Tests Runs in a Calendar Year : During his double century knock at the MCG, Azhar Ali completed 1,000 runs in test cricket in 2016. This first time he has achieved this feat since his debut in 2010. Azhar became only the 5th batsman from Pakistan to complete 1,000 runs in test cricket in a calendar year, after Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Inzamam Ul Haq, and Mohsin Khan. Azhar's tally of 1,155 is the third highest by a Pakistani batsman in a calendar year, and he has the opportunity to improve that to the second highest if Pakistan get a second innings crack at the MCG

Pakistan's / World's Leading Run Scorer in 2016 : With 1,155 runs in tests in 2016, Azhar is the leading run scorer from Pakistan and sits at number 5 among the leading run scorers of the year. And look at that average! Second best among top 10 runs scorers of the year, behind only Virat Kohli. Azhar Ali has had a magnificent year in test cricket. A triple hundred and a double hundred in the same calendar year is rare, and he has become the first batsman from Pakistan to achieve this feat. He is just entering his peak years as a batsman and one can only imagine what more he can achieve going forward.

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