Pakistan relish England challenge

[Maranello]

Fighting talk from Bob the Builder as always:

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer believes they have the talent to burst England's "Ashes bubble" in November's Test series between the two sides.

(link)

Not dissimilar to the bravado before Pakistan's tour to Australia, and we all know what happened there. Perhaps the coach should learn from Fletcher and let his results do the talking. Also, all talk of bursting England's bubble is extremely premature and such remarks invariably lead to large slices of humble pie.

To be fair to Woolmer, it seems the Beeb has done some clever sub-editing here, as BW does say some very sensible things in the article (eg bringing back Mushtaq Ahmed and playing two leg spinners).


PS: and that was the 2000th post - had to make sure it was in the Pakistan forum

[Maranello]

Pakistan launches talent hunt for bowlers to tame England - news report:

Pakistan has launched a nationwide hunt for talented fast bowlers to face new Ashes holders England when they tour here in November and December. Officials will scour the cricket-crazy country for untested pacemen [...]

"We need to have a better combination of fast bowlers and need to explore more talent," Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul Haq said during a press conference late Monday to announce a series of trials.

The trials, staged by the Pakistan Cricket Board, will be held in ten cities across Pakistan and the best fast bowlers outside first class competition will be picked.

Much ado about nothing? To be fair to the PCB, the most naturally talented fast bowler of them all, Wasim Akram, was selected to play Tests for Pakistan before he had any first-class experience. Hence, there might some other raw diamonds loitering in the gallis and mohallas up and down the country, but I would prefer if the PCB went about such exercises more regularly, and perhaps with less fanfare.

[Captain]

yes marnello, i was going to start a thread for the search, but you are one step ahead of me,

who knows what happens lets wait and see.

[Orchid]

Originally Posted by Maranello

To be fair to the PCB, the most naturally talented fast bowler of them all, Wasim Akram, was selected to play Tests for Pakistan before he had any first-class experience. Hence, there might some other raw diamonds loitering in the gallis and mohallas up and down the country, but I would prefer if the PCB went about such exercises more regularly, and perhaps with less fanfare.

Antics like these really drive me crazy. Why is PCB so confused even now? Why can't they just decide on one action plan and stick to it! If they want to continue searching for 'raw diamonds' from the gallis, just make it a long term plan and continue throwing youngsters into the Test arena and keep discarding them once they break down or suffer a lapse in form in the blind belief that they have an endless supply of these dispensible bowlers. Why oh why do they sometimes show that they are now beginning to see our players as long term prospects who need backing up and nurturing before being exposed to the big guys? Why when we already have a tough competition for place in the playing 11 from within the contracted and fringe bowlers do they need to do this? If the fringe bolwers were not good enough, why were they sent to MRF Pace Foundation? I'll never understand this.

[Captain]

you and me,orchid

[Zainub]

I don't think the mood reflected in Bob's statements is any less different to the one expressed by Fletcher in his remarks before the Ashes - he's just trying to say we can win if we play well enough, (which I peraonally believe is true of every series we play regardless of the oppositions' strengths or weakness). I hence forth don't disagree with him at all.

And what to do you expect to say him instead anyway, 'oh no, I think England are an invincible side and we're were afraid that we'll get hammered 3-0 and 5-0' ...surely something on those lines wouldn't be of much good to the team confidence? I'd much rather prefer see him be positive at all times personally.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Woolmer

"I think England are favourites," Woolmer was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "I don't think we [Pakistan] play Test cricket as well as I would like. We've got a couple of problems we have to sort out before England come. Our opening partnership, the format of how many bowlers we play, and our fielding and catching, are areas where we have to improve. I think the Andrew Strauss and the Marcus Trescothick opening partnership has been a particularly strong one. And of course, the one most important person is Michael Vaughan, who I think has captained brilliantly."

Cricinfo link

Can't really disagree with any of what he says, though hopefully he is a bit more positive in private, I am sure he knows its a bit early to start on the 'all doom and gloom' front. I still feel though that he needs to get on with his job and stop talking to the cameras; the best answer to any reporter's question for someone in his position is an enigmatic but firm "No comment".

[Paoli]

Geoff Marsh, ahead of the tri-series against Australia and India in 2003-04, made this claim: "I think we (Zimbabwe) have got a better all-round side than the other teams".

Obviously a load of crap; Zimbabwe didn't win one game that series. If anything, it's better to talk the opposition up as Woolmer has done. Marsh perhaps could've said, "The guys know it'll be a massive challenge but their prepared to fight".

Anyway, Maranello, please explain this trial thing. Do Pakistan plan to get a random bloke off the street who can whistle one past Inzamam's gut and put him straight into the national team? Or is this a long term exercise?

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Anyway, Maranello, please explain this trial thing. Do Pakistan plan to get a random bloke off the street who can whistle one past Inzamam's gut and put him straight into the national team?

Take a bloke off the street and give him a Test cap..hmm... they have done that in the past with many players, and often it has worked out. However, I am not in favour of that as a strategy; ideally, the 'random bloke' they select should be included in his local/nearest first-class team, and given a first-class season to show what he could do. That would strengthen the first-class system and also ensure that when players are selected for the national team, they have already received coaching and have some experience.

[Zainub]

I don't mind Woolmer coming out and talking to the press, I would preffer him doing all the talking and the players keeping quite (hopefully I've seen the last of such BBC headlines as "Shoaib warns England" - I think we can do without that).

'Tis better to have a coach handling all the press then individual players, especially if some of the players have got OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

ps: on the front of picking up a random bloke from the street and giving him a test cap - that's sounds pretty much exactly how Imran Khan got hold of Inzi. And perhaps Wasim too. And if I'm not wrong probably Shoaib and Sami too.