In 2019 at the Gabba, Babar Azam played an innings that created a future.Pakistan were 25-3. The first ball from Pat Cummins was 141 kilometres per hour (87.6mph) and delivered as if on a string. Babar stood tall, rocked back, defended it with the middle of the bat, then scratched out his guard. There was a hint of swagger, of main character energy. Scoreless for his first 13 deliveries, he dispatched Cummins back down the ground for four and, from there, Babar blossomed.He cut Nathan Lyon from a good length, he pulled Josh Hazlewood in front of square, he punched Mitchell Starc’s 150kmph delivery through point. Against the best bowling attack of a generation, at the fortress of Australian cricket, he scored 104 from 173 balls and put on a clinic as good as anything you will see.It was supposed to be the arrival of a generational talent, the moment Babar graduated into a player who could dominate an era. It feels a long time ago.A 25-year-old Babar Azam raises his bat after reaching his century at the Gabba in 2019 (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)On day two at Lord’s, as Babar made his way to the middle, his Pakistan side were 16-2. Once again, they found themselves behind, struggling to find a batting foothold overseas, but with the cause far from lost.The first ball he faced was wayward down the legside from Josh Tongue, but the second was back in business, top of off. Pakistan’s skipper pressed forward, smothered the movement, the ball watched on to the middle of the bat and the threat vanquished. The next ball, he went back deep into his crease, repeating the trick.That calm restraint, both balls of it, was good while it lasted. From then on, it was chaos.A wide half-volley from Tongue was dispatched for four, before the fast bowler ripped one past Babar’s outside edge. Gus Atkinson over-pitched and Babar’s hands went hard through the ball for four. Back to Tongue, who took Babar’s outside edge, but it fell short of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. The next ball, no such luck: Tongue’s angle in and movement away drew another false shot and this time, the edge flew to Jordan Cox in the cordon.Babar Azam’s pitch map at Lord’sTwo lovely drives before nicking off. For a batter of Babar’s talent, a man with a Test average in the 40s, it was all far too predictable.