Has Nathan Ellis figured out Babar Azam? Aussie reacts after dismissing PAK star again in Lahore

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Has Nathan Ellis figured out Babar Azam? Aussie reacts after dismissing PAK star again in Lahore originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

  • Nathan Ellis took 4/33 and was named Player of the Match in Lahore against Pakistan.
  • Ellis has now dismissed Babar Azam three times in ODI cricket alone.
  • Australia won by 41 runs to level the series before the decider. 

Nathan Ellis haunts Babar Azam again with a four-wicket haul in Lahore ODI

Nathan Ellis is fast becoming a nightmare for Pakistan, and for Babar Azam in particular, as the Australian right-arm pacer delivered another match-winning performance in the second ODI in Lahore.

He finished with figures of 4/33 from nine overs as Pakistan were dismissed for 190 in pursuit of a target of 232, as Australia won by 41 runs to level the series. 

Babar came to the crease with Pakistan in trouble at 6/2 after early damage, but Ellis trapped him in front for 16 off 16 balls. It was a dismissal that effectively buried Pakistan's chase, as they were reduced to 33/3 in just 4.4 overs. 

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In ODI cricket, Ellis has now removed Babar three times in 61 deliveries, conceding only 68 runs. That gives Babar an average of just 22.7 against him in the 50-over format. The pattern stretches into T20 Internationals as well, where Babar has managed just 21 runs from 13 balls and has been dismissed once by the Australian. 

Despite the numbers stacking up in his favour, Ellis was careful not to undermine Babar. 

"I haven't got Babar worked out, that's for sure. He's obviously a great," said Ellis bluntly.

"A bit of assistance from the wicket tonight, and those were the balls that were working. So managed to get one to sneak through, and I think he's well-known to be sort of the linchpin of the batting lineup for Pakistan, so... yeah, to see the back of Babar's...a good sight for us."

MORE: 'Only for a job extension': Shoaib Maqsood slams Hesson over 'dusty' Lahore track

Ellis also spoke at length about bowling on a surface that differed noticeably from what is typically seen in modern one-day cricket. He tries not to get too caught up in thinking about individual wickets and instead focuses on reading conditions and adjusting as the situation demands. 

"I try not to think about the wickets too much. Like, it is what it is, you know. It's one of those things, and I just want to adapt on the fly," he said. 

"I mean, clearly tonight, we saw the fast bowlers going to change up pretty early. We saw reverse swing, and we saw some spin. So it looks a little bit different to the traditional one-day cricket we're seeing around the world at the moment. But, yeah, I do think there's a place for it too."

MORE: Have Australia ever won an away ODI series vs Pakistan?

The Cricket News Opinion: Ellis another lethal weapon in Aussie armour before 2027 WC

Ellis deserves real credit, and not just for the wickets, as he has shown composure on surfaces that demanded something different from his usual game plan. He took the Lahore pitch for what it was, dusty, dry, unpredictable, and used it rather than fighting against it.

In South Africa, his skill will be a lethal weapon for the Aussies as he provides variety and depth to an already stacked bowling attack. 

Whereas, as far as his duel with Babar is concerned, the Pakistan star is too good a batter for one bowler to have permanently solved him, and being modest about it is the smart approach. The moment Ellis starts thinking he has Babar worked out is probably the moment Babar puts him to the boundary. 

For now, the numbers tell a good story, and so does the scoreboard.

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