Woolmer: Pakistan played poorly

[sharuk]

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he was disappointed by his team's performance in the Old Trafford Test, which England won by an innings and 120 runs.
Woolmer said: "You can't make excuses. We just played very poorly.

"I don't think our batsmen are scared of fast bowling. We've just got to learn how to play it a bit better."

He said Steve Harmison (11-76) was the difference between the two sides. "He got this lovely, steepling bounce from the beginning of the match."

Pakistan never really recovered from a shambolic first innings, as Woolmer freely acknowledged.

He said: "We did the hard work on the first morning and thought we would get to lunch just two wickets down and calm down a bit.

"But we lost two wickets just before lunch and two soon after and the game was all over from then on.

"I think we played pretty averagely with the bat.

"There were several injudicious shots and we couldn't really fight back after scoring 119 on the first day."

Woolmer defended spin bowler Danish Kaneria, who took just one wicket in England's 461-9 declared.

"He's a very fine bowler and bowled beautifully. He was very unlucky, and he can win a game for us. But first we have to get England under pressure."

The tourists' coach is hoping for more favourable conditions in the final two matches of the series.

"I don't think we can blame the pitch but it was quite uneven," he said.

"We would hope that at The Oval the bounce would be truer."



BBC

[qasim722]

Bob didn,t mention his "marble slab" experiment? :P :P

[hassanpp]

mn its true pakistan played rubbish

[Salman]

To be quite blunt, Bob's honeymoon period as Pak coach is over... We need to see some results outside the subcontinent...

Aamir Sohail is having a field day gunning down Bob so far this series

One point he does put accross well is how much time does Bob really spends with Pak?
he stated on Geo that Bob only arrives in the country 2-3 weeks before a series is about to start...(compared that to Greg Chapple who moved his family to India just so he could be closer to the Indian team)

Is this time adaqute to understand genuine player form and fitness level, plus correcting any known issues in technique of some of the players...

It's the first time i've spoken slightley negative of Woolmer but all the bases need to be covered when discussing the current Pak batting, fielding and fitness levels that we have witnessed so far in this series.

[pakistani pride]

Calm down . . . we lost a test not the series. Why blame BW our batters are to be blamed if they still will go after balls outside off, to drive while knowing there is uneven bounce then there is something wrong in your head !

[Salman]

Calm down . . . we lost a test not the series. Why blame BW our batters are to be blamed if they still will go after balls outside off, to drive while knowing there is uneven bounce then there is something wrong in your head !


It was nearly 2 tests if not for one Mohd Yousuf...

[Nauman]

I agree with you Salman Mohommad Yousaf and Inzi were good as it is, so the only player who has improved under Woolmer is Younis Khan apart from that if anything things have gone down as far as batting was concerned. We have been enjoying success on laurels of Big Inzi, YK and Mohommad Yousaf for past one year. We had a pretty much settled opening pair in tests and ODIs under Miandad in form of Farhat/Taufeeq and Farhat/Hameed the first thing Bob did was dismiss that and its been that day to date we have not played a single test series with 1 opening pair.

Usually advantages of foriegn coach is that they improve your fielding, fielding has been pretty average to say the least. Heck our fielding was better then this even under Pybus.

[Tariq Jamshed]

"I don't think our batsmen are scared of fast bowling. "




Was it somebody else impersonating Razzaq? Or does Woolmer not count Razzaq as a batsman? Which of these two is true?

[infamous9383]

all rounders should be abandoned from test cricket only specialists.

[mlegha1]

When the best bowling talent that you put out is Sami cut the coach some slack.The coach is ineffective if the players donot apply themselves on the pitch.As someone mentioned that series is not lost we can still save some face.We are being a little too judgemental and a little too soon.

[Hasan]

What a typical Pakistani reaction one defeat and we get our knives out. How silly some of you sound when you attack the coach who has taken the team to # 2 position in the Testing ratings. I recall the same type of emotional reaction when Pak lost the first Test against India, Bob the evil foreigner was to blame for all the problems of Pakistani cricket. The fact that we have the worst first class set in the world did not come into consideration. And today people are blaming Bob, but they fail to realise that Pakistan has probably never produced a pitch with this much bounce and carry. When these players who have been not coached or very poorly coached come across a pitch of this type they are bound to fail.

However, its also interesting to note that if Pakistan do recover in this series these silly people will once agian jump on the band wagon and start to banging the Pakistani drum.

Its surprising that despite watching this game so much, some of our fans failed to appreciate its finer points. To put is simply, on pitchs with bounce Pakistan will always struggle as our players never grow up playing on such pitches. This would have been true in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and its true today!!!!

[KA$H]

well said hasan

i must admit the truth behind the loss today was we allowed to be bossed around by England and I think the percieved threat was greater in the minds of our batsman than the actual pitch. having said that harmison and panesar really did bowl beautifully. and their batsmen really got their heads down and ground out the runs - gotta give credit where credits due

[Salman]

What a typical Pakistani reaction one defeat and we get our knives out. How silly some of you sound when you attack the coach who has taken the team to # 2 position in the Testing ratings. I recall the same type of emotional reaction when Pak lost the first Test against India, Bob the evil foreigner was to blame for all the problems of Pakistani cricket. The fact that we have the worst first class set in the world did not come into consideration. And today people are blaming Bob, but they fail to realise that Pakistan has probably never produced a pitch with this much bounce and carry. When these players who have been not coached or very poorly coached come across a pitch of this type they are bound to fail.

However, its also interesting to note that if Pakistan do recover in this series these silly people will once agian jump on the band wagon and start to banging the Pakistani drum.

Its surprising that despite watching this game so much, some of our fans failed to appreciate its finer points. To put is simply, on pitchs with bounce Pakistan will always struggle as our players never grow up playing on such pitches. This would have been true in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and its true today!!!!

:D I expected a "typical reaction" reply from someone..

no one is blaming the coach outright for this defeat (apart from Ammir Sohail), but it's evident that our younger player's were required to do a lot of hard work on the finer skill's like fielding before coming to England gives what Aamir Sohail is saying some weight...

OK forget the fact that we have gone into the tests with a tame bowling arsenal, but England have fielded twice as well as us in both tests so far... be it abilty or stratagy...the latter being the coaches resposibilty...

Bob's made us into a good unit, but there's lots & lots of hard work to be done just to maintain that number 2 spot.. relying on Shoaib, Asif or Rana's return is not enough.

[Hash]

This defeat was bound to happen at some point. 14 months without losing a test........that was one magnificent run and all credit has to go to Bob Woolmer, Inzi and the boys.

One bad performance is not enough to get the knives out. We got thrashed because we played poor cricket and England played better than us. There is still a lot of cricket to be played in this series and if recent history is anything to go by, you can expect us to bounce back at Headingly.

Ofcoarse there will always be those typical reactions about needing to do this or needing to do that or sacking this or sacking that. We don't need to do anything other than continue what we were doing before. Pakistan cricket is in a fantastic state at the moment. The team's record over the last year and 2 months (just ONE test match defeat) speaks for itself.

[Nauman]

This defeat was bound to happen at some point. 14 months without losing a test........that was one magnificent run and all credit has to go to Bob Woolmer, Inzi and the boys.

One bad performance is not enough to get the knives out. We got thrashed because we played poor cricket and England played better than us. There is still a lot of cricket to be played in this series and if recent history is anything to go by, you can expect us to bounce back at Headingly.

Ofcoarse there will always be those typical reactions about needing to do this or needing to do that or sacking this or sacking that. We don't need to do anything other than continue what we were doing before. Pakistan cricket is in a fantastic state at the moment. The team's record over the last year and 2 months (just ONE test match defeat) speaks for itself.
Loosing is fine but the manner in which we lost is unacceptable.

[Muzy]

its done and dusted now look forward to the next test, yes it was a bad performance by the team but it was only ONE test, pitch favoured england team more but if our batsmen had utilised it and stuck around patiently then maybe, just maybe things would have looked better even if we still lost, anyhow next stop Headingley so heads up high guys we support Pakistan team all the way nothing is over not until we bounce back and destroy their 2minutes momentum for ONE test, we all know how strong pakistan team pounces back, good luck to them!!! Inshallah :19:

[Mercenary]

Fletcher has had around 7 years with England, the results have only started coming in the last 2 to 3 years and even then this last year post-Ashes has been a very poor run for England.

Woolmer has barely had two years with Pakistan and despite that we've only lost one test series which was his second series in charge and that was to the mighty Aussies in Australia.

This is a huge over reaction to a typical Pakistani collapse which has been a Pakistani speciality for over a decade now, hardly something Bob can correct in 2 years!!

Lets not forget Mohali, Multan, Lahore, Karachi, etc where we have shown our fighting capablities.

Our youngsters never learn from their mistakes whilst English players like Bell, Cook, Plunkett and Panesar learn from every game. We complain our players dont get a decent run, players like Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Plunkett and Geraint are playing for thier place every time they walk out there!!

It's our players that lack the drive and commitment to improve themselves, a coach can only do so much!

[Oxy]

Merc has said some of the things I wanted to.

Eng players like Bell, Collingwood, Cooke etc were widely regarded as 'second-stringers' - just filling in for injured players....and they've all got BIG RUNS and centuries galore v Pak.

Both Bell & Cooke have given interviws in the last 24 houur where they say that they are doing their bit for the team and hope they can do enough in the selectors eyes to retain their place in the squad.

Then you have the much maligned Geriant Jones - under pressure for his keeping - and he's produced 10 dismissals in his 2 games v Pak.

The problem lies with the approach of our players - their application.

What drives them?

And more importantly - how they react and respond when the chips are down.

[Schiller]

I think Hash, this defeat takes on significance because it appears that on certain pitches, we have moved nowhere.

Not to mention, it does appear as if we are headed for a series loss.

[KB]

I think Hash, this defeat takes on significance because it appears that on certain pitches, we have moved nowhere.


Nothing new, though.

Pakistan have never won a Test at Brisbane or Perth - two pitches that traditionally offer steep bounce. In fact they have lost every Test bar one at those grounds and have often collapsed at those grounds.

[Amjid Javed]

Old trafford was a ground weve done well on before, we were just poor in every department all game!

[the SHA]

Perspective guys perspective.

We batted first on a pitch conjusive to pace / bounce / sideways movement. Harmison was in lethal mood and frankily wouldve caused any batting lineup problems. As for Monty Panesar, well all I can say is that in his entire 2nd innings spell I dont think I saw a single bad ball from the guy. He exploited the very helpful finger-spinner conditions excellently.

What was dissapointing to me though from this Pak team, which to be fair to them was out of their control, was that despite the collapse they were unable to pose any threat with the ball. That is the real difference between Pak teams of old and current. I think Pak management need to seriously consider an early Shoaib option to keep our series hopes alive.

[mooz]

Nothing new, though.

Pakistan have never won a Test at Brisbane or Perth - two pitches that traditionally offer steep bounce. In fact they have lost every Test bar one at those grounds and have often collapsed at those grounds.

but thats the point, isn't it?
What real progress have me made? Yes we played some good cricket at home, and we got some good results in SL, but at the end of the day we still can't put together two good scores outsides the subcontinent. Our bowling has been ravaged by injuries, but what excuse do our batsmen have?
Frankly I see no improvement in our batting during Bob's term with the team, save for YK's coming of age.

[KB]

but thats the point, isn't it?
What real progress have me made? Yes we played some good cricket at home, and we got some good results in SL, but at the end of the day we still can't put together two good scores outsides the subcontinent. Our bowling has been ravaged by injuries, but what excuse do our batsmen have?
Frankly I see no improvement in our batting during Bob's term with the team, save for YK's coming of age.

My point was that it is not just this generation of cricketers that have struggled with steep bounce.

The only way to improve is to get more practice at playing on those types of surfaces or get extremely lucky and find a group of exceptionally talented batsmen.

Since that Perth Test, Pakistan have not played another Test on a pitch that has had steep bounce until this current Test just concluded.

[ex-opener]

Bob didn,t mention his "marble slab" experiment? :P :P


with the use of the "marble slab" do you guys think this had mentally scared our batsmen to expect the worst when the worst was not there.

[Salman]

with the use of the "marble slab" do you guys think this had mentally scared our batsmen to expect the worst when the worst was not there.

Wish he kept quite about that, Media backfire....ouch.

[mooz]

My point was that it is not just this generation of cricketers that have struggled with steep bounce.

The only way to improve is to get more practice at playing on those types of surfaces or get extremely lucky and find a group of exceptionally talented batsmen.

Since that Perth Test, Pakistan have not played another Test on a pitch that has had steep bounce until this current Test just concluded.

So what exactly is it that we pay BW to do?
Is he supposed to improve our team or not?

[Hash]

So what exactly is it that we pay BW to do?
Is he supposed to improve our team or not?

Our record since he took over speaks for itself

[w4s1m786]

calm down people its one test defeat first in a whole year, we have still 2 tests to play for, you guys need to remember we are basically playing are second string bowling line up, i personally thing this was a one- off performance by us and inshallah we will level the series at headingly

[the Great Khan]

well according to some fans lets just give up now coz we havent improved..kya bakvaas hai??..we lose one test and its kill the coach time..nonsense!!

[infamous9383]

Pakistan didn't play poorly they were awful, horrandous and embrassment but a loss was due

[inzidabest]

Simple reasons for defeat.
1) Playin average all roudners in the team at the cost of specialists
2) Opening with Kamran Akmal

[ehjaz]

Woolmer: Pakistan played poorly

yeah sure! Sherlock Holmes

[bakarashi]

Yar our own players succumbed to the bowling, Srilankan lambasted adequately.
Dont blame BW.

You must be assured that HAMEED, TOUFIQUE AND IMRAN FARHAT are the players who themselves little know what shots they played. You cant call them world class batsmen.

[CrickFan]

The coach cannot bat / bowl ...He can only guide ...Players like Razaak , Afridi , Salman , sami , Imran and Faisal are just not good enough to play well outside subcontinent ...Sami won't do anything special even within the subcontinent ...Danish gives 100 runs before he actually starts taking wickets ..

[Mercenary]

but thats the point, isn't it?
What real progress have me made? Yes we played some good cricket at home, and we got some good results in SL, but at the end of the day we still can't put together two good scores outsides the subcontinent. Our bowling has been ravaged by injuries, but what excuse do our batsmen have?

Woolmer has had one series outside subcontinent like conditions (Windies is full of flat tracks as well) prior to this England series and that was vs Australia. This is only his second series on faster bouncier tracks in the whole two years he's been with Pakistan.

How can he coach/improve batsmen for fast tracks when he has no access to fast and bouncy pitches for practice??

Is it any wonder he carries around a marble slab? He's doing his level best to replicate fast and bouncy conditions but there is only so much a coach can do.

[Farhad]

Woolmer should know that for starters he planned poorly too. It's all nice to bask in the glory of team's triumph's but he has to realise that he needs to share in the blame to for the capitulations. His favorites Farhat, Faisal and Sami were disasters in the waiting.

Also, maybe he should advise Harmison to shorten his run-up - the antagonist of aggressive hostile bowling that he obviously is!

[Bilsher007]

Asalaam alikum Wr Wb Brothers;

I think we are taking the criticism on bob woolmer a bit too far. Mistakes can be made after all he is human not angel. Inzamam and woolmer are both as much guilty as the other players for the debacle at old trafford. However one must'nt forget what great benefits woolmer has offered to pakistan since his takeover as the national coach. Pakistan has gone to new level with woolmer's coaching and is currently ranked number 2. As i said in few other threads and as have many brothers have said that we were due a failure having not lost a test match in the last one year. But the manner in which we surrendered and lost humiliatingly was unacceptable.

Yes we played poorly, firstly we planned poorly both phycologically and strategically. Kamran akmal's promotion to opening slot did'nt resolve the opening dilemma and we lost kamran's great use at number 7. Due to this overloading, kamran's performance with gloves was quite poor too. Afridi has not being utilised properly at all to date in the series. He should have been given more overs to bowl in the first innings and allowed to bat at number six. It is this very position he has been so consistently performing with the bat in the last three series. Sami should'nt have been part of the playing eleven, he might have bowled better at old trafford than lords but i am sorry he lacked the killer instinct to be match winning. Pakistan made mistake of dropping butt. Both farhat and butt notched up half centuries againts northamptonshire in the second innings before this test match therefore specialislist pair of openers should have been retained. Shahid nazir is being overlooked for what i crime i don't know. He is a better prospect than sami clearly.

I hope skipper inzi and coach woolmer sit down and do some serious thinking and implementation. If pakistan don't make the right decisions and preparations than consider a series loss in england.

[James]

Fletcher has had around 7 years with England, the results have only started coming in the last 2 to 3 years and even then this last year post-Ashes has been a very poor run for England.

Woolmer has barely had two years with Pakistan and despite that we've only lost one test series which was his second series in charge and that was to the mighty Aussies in Australia.

This is a huge over reaction to a typical Pakistani collapse which has been a Pakistani speciality for over a decade now, hardly something Bob can correct in 2 years!!

Lets not forget Mohali, Multan, Lahore, Karachi, etc where we have shown our fighting capablities.

Our youngsters never learn from their mistakes whilst English players like Bell, Cook, Plunkett and Panesar learn from every game. We complain our players dont get a decent run, players like Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Plunkett and Geraint are playing for thier place every time they walk out there!!

It's our players that lack the drive and commitment to improve themselves, a coach can only do so much!

Errrrr no, considering the team in the Hussian era was nothing more than an alright side a lot of the results were good after the New Zealand debacle.

[Farhad]

Lets not forget Mohali, Multan, Lahore, Karachi, etc where we have shown our fighting capablities.

Barring Karachi, they were all dead tracks. Nevetheless, those fightbacks were remarkable.

We have to find a solution to cure our batsmen's vulnerability on bouncy pitches.