AUS vs PAK | Sending Babar Azam at five is ridiculous, opines Ian Chappell

Pakistan continued their poor run of form, they had in the T20 series which they lost 2-0, in the Test series as they lost the opening encounter by an innings and five runs. The visitors posted a timid total of 240 in the first and in response, Australia piled up a mammoth total of 580, courtesy of two big hundreds from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne.

Trying to negate the massive 340 run lead of the hosts Pakistan did put up a fight but it was too little too late. Babar Azam was the hero of the second innings for the visitors as he went on to score a ton while being ably supported by Mohammed Rizwan who pulled up a fighting 95.

Former Australia international Ian Chappell voiced his concern over the batting position of Babar, i.e No.5, as he shared that he shouldn't come in below No.4. Chappell also pointed out that had Babar come in at No.3 in the first innings, where scored a single run coming in at No.5, the result could have been different.

"I think he’s a very good player. But Pakistan has got to make much better use of him by getting him further up the order. Four is the minimum. He should have batted at four in the match and I’d like to see him put in at three, but certainly no lower than four. I think if he had come in at 1/75 in the first innings, how much difference it made to the game we'll never know but it was ridiculous to send him in at five," Times Now news quoted the former Australia international.

Babar was in superb touch in the second innings at the Gabba as he played with control and confidence. Newly appointed Test skipper Azhar Ali would like to give Chappell’s advice a thought as Pakistan go into the series decider in Adelaide, which will be a D/N affair, looking to secure their first points in the World Test Championship.