Babar Azam made his return to red-ball cricket through the Boxing Day Test between Pakistan and South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, December 26. Well, he wasn't able to make his return special with a big knock but the former Pakistan skipper joined the elite list only after two cricketers.

Babar Azam was able to make only four runs on his return to the Test side. Still, it was enough for him to become the third player to score over 4,000 runs in all three formats of the game in the international circuit. He joined current Indian Skipper Rohit Sharma and his teammate Virat Kohli who also have 4,000-plus runs in all three formats.

4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test runs ✅@babarazam258 is only the third player to score over 4,000 runs in all three formats of the game! 🤩👏#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/QNu4jY27E8

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 26, 2024

Babar has scored 4001 runs from 56 Tests, 5957 runs from 123 ODIs, and 4,223 runs from 128 T20Is in his international career.

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Babar Azam was left out from the Test side after the first Test against England at home earlier this year. It was after the continuous disappointment from the test side at Home. He made his return to the side but was able to play only 11 deliveries. Babar smashed four off debutant Corbin Bosch's full toss.

He wasn't able to score more as he was dismissed by Pacer Dane Paterson off second slip.

Paterson, Bosch restricts Pakistan to 211, ends Day 1 on 82/3 trail by 129

South African Skipper Temba Bavuma opted to field the first Test at Centurion. Pakistan Openers started very well and put up a 36-run opening stand. They were dismissed in consecutive overs by Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson respectively. Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Rizwan stitched an 81-run partnership. But it was broken again as Dane Paterson dismissed Kamran Ghulam for a well-made 54. Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal's partnership of 47 runs took Pakistan close to the 200-run mark. Pakistan were dismissed for 211 as Dane Paterson bagged five wickets. Meanwhile, debutant Corbin Bosch picked up four.

Pakistan struck early in the 3rd over itself as Khurram Shahzad got better of left-handed batter Tony de Zorzi for 2(8). He dismissed another left-hander Ryan Rickelton for 8(10). Pacer Mohammad Abbas who made his return into the side after three years dismissed Tristan Stubbs by LBW for 9(28) restricting Proteas to 66-3. Proteas end the Day 1 on 89-3 trailing by 129 runs with Aiden Markram 47*(67) and Skipper Temba Bavuma on 4*(23).

Brief Scores: Pakistan 211 (Kamran Ghulam 54, Aamer Jamal 28; Dane Paterson 5-35, Corbin Bosch 4-24) lead South Africa 82/3 (Aiden Markram 47*, Tristan Stubbs 9; Khurram Shahzad 2-28, Mohammad Abbas 1-36) by 129 runs.