Former England captain Nasser Hussain has praised Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam highly after his maiden Test century and compared him to the great Steve Smith.
The 29-year-old made quite the statement in the second Test against England with an impressive debut century, scoring 118 off 224 balls.
Thrown into the spotlight as a replacement for Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, Ghulam didn’t disappoint. When he walked to the crease, Pakistan was already under pressure, having lost two early wickets on a tricky Multan pitch.
Read More: Should We Really Compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli?
But instead of crumbling, Ghulam held his nerve. His calm and composed approach was a mix of patience and aggression, a balance that impressed Hussain, who was quick to acknowledge the debutant’s maturity.
“He had to wait his turn. He’s been scoring prolific runs in the last three years,” Hussain said during his analysis on Sky Cricket. “But once he got in, he found the right balance between attack and defense.”
It’s one thing to score big runs in domestic cricket, but doing it on the international stage, against a quality England attack, makes it all the more impressive.
Read More: PCB Issues Show-Cause Notice To Fakhar Zaman Over Defending Babar Azam
A Hint of Steve Smith?
One of the most striking parts of Hussain’s praise was his comparison of Ghulam to Australia’s Steve Smith—one of the best Test batters in the world.
“He used his feet as well. He’s got a bit of Steve Smith about him when he defends the ball and charges. He’s got a bit of swagger about him,” Hussain noted, pointing out Ghulam’s unique batting style.
It wasn’t just his defense that caught the eye, though. Ghulam, like many Pakistani batters, showed an affinity for the sweep shot, a risky but rewarding stroke, especially on the spinning tracks of the subcontinent.
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