WATCH: Babar Azam’s magical back-foot punches off Jofra Archer, James Anderson

Babar Azam dominated Day 1 of first England vs Pakistan Test at Manchester. Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. The openers made sure their skipper took the right decision by building a solid partnership for the first wicket without losing a wicket in the first 15 overs.

The English bowlers managed to mount a comeback through a ripper from Jofra Archer. The pacer accounted for Abid Ali with a brilliant incoming delivery. Chris Woakes soon dismissed the skipper himself by trapping him in the front of the wicket. The Pakistan skipper failed to open his account and left Pakistan in a bit of trouble.

Babar Azam masterclass

English bowlers looked for the answers as Babar Azam began to play his shots. One of the shots that stood out was his trademark backfoot punch off Jofra Archer .

The only thing missing is crowd. This shot deserves English crowd clapping. #PakvsEng #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/EFrs5gJgHx

— Abdul (@iabdul41) August 5, 2020

Azam also played these trademark backfoot punches off James Anderson.

Babar Azam Cover Drive vs Ansersons.
nothing better than a Babar Azam cover drive.#ENGvPAK #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/HwvLu6q430

— RaNa BilaL (@AB18PK) August 5, 2020

Smokes Dom Bess for almost a six

Pakistan batsman Babar Azam smoked the English off-spinner, Dominic Bess, for a brilliant boundary towards midwicket on the day 1 of the first test match between the two sides. Babar came to crease when Pakistan found themselves in trouble after losing 2 wickets in quick succession.

Walked in Babar Azam at the number 4 and soon started to stamp his authority over the English bowlers. No English bowler had any answers to the brilliance of Azam as he built a vital partnership alongside Shan Masood.

In the 41st over of the innings, Babar Azam faced off-spinner Dominic Bess. Azam was playing at the score of 45 when he stepped out at a flighted delivery by Bess to smoke him over the midwicket boundary.

https://twitter.com/iShahidHameed/status/1291022522167762944

Azam moved to 49 with this shot, and soon he completed his 14th fifty in the Test cricket. He, alongside Masood, has built a partnership of 96 runs and they would be eyeing to take this partnership further on day 2. Babar Azam finished the day at a score of unbeaten 69 and took Pakistan to a commendable score of 139/2 at the end of the day. Both the Pakistan batsmen would look to pick up from where they have left the day 1 and the English bowlers would try to come back by picking up some quick wickets early in the day 2.