Following Pakistan’s achievements, record-breaking Babar is right up there with the best.

Babar Azam’s credentials in limited-overs cricket have long been known, but his 196 against Australia in the longer format put him on level with some of the game’s legends.

In the second Test in Karachi on Wednesday, Azam batted valiantly for 10 hours and 7 minutes in a 425-ball effort to help Pakistan save a draw.

His valiant performance tied Michael Atherton’s 185 not out, which helped England win the 1995 Johannesburg Test against South Africa, for the second-longest fourth-innings knock in a Test.

Azam contributed 228 for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique (96) and 115 for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan fought off the Australian onslaught for 171.4 overs (104 not out).

The three-match series — Australia’s first in Pakistan in 24 years — was tied at 0-0 after the first Test in Rawalpindi ended in a 0-0 draw.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told AFP that Azam’s performance was “career defining.”