CMJ on Woolmer and Pakistan cricket

[Maranello]

A very interesting article by CMJ on Pakistan cricket in the The Times a few days ago, titled: Woolmer's technical merit offers hope for Pakistan.

He makes some good points about the very healthy influence of Shehryar Khan, and about Woolmer bringing in much-needer order and method to the team and the players. Some excerpts:

Nowhere is there more natural aptitude for cricket than on the sub-continent. Since July, Woolmer has been doing his best to sort out the many options emanating from the relatively small pockets of population in the north, presiding over some outstanding performances by the A team, notably in outplaying their counterparts from Australia on a lively pitch at Rawalpindi, thereby winning a two-match series. “They can all play really well,” Woolmer said. “It is just a question of sorting out which of them have the temperament and special skill to become consistent Test cricketers.”

Woolmer’s base is the National Cricket Academy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the facilities, inside and out, are as good as anywhere. With characteristic thoroughness, he has learnt some Urdu and studied Muslim culture. He and Inzamam-ul-Haq, whose once faltering English has improved, understand each other most of the time. If ever they do not, there are educated men in the dressing-room, notably Salman Butt, the left-handed opener, to translate. Inzamam is held in awe by his players: when he enters the dressing-room they stand up like schoolboys before the headmaster. Woolmer has experienced a similar aura of authority in the dressing-room of a national team: Hansie Cronje was as revered as Inzamam before his mighty fall.

[Mike]

Interesting article. Just for the record here is Woolmer's Test and ODI record since becoming Pakistan's coach:
Tests: 10P 3W 6L 0T 1D
ODIs: 34P 22W 12L 0T

Remarkably, they have only played 5 Home matches for 4 wins. They won a two match series against Zimbabwe and a three match series against Sri Lanka. Looks like they could be decent opposition for England in the one-dayers.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Mike

Looks like they could be decent opposition for England in the one-dayers.

Surely that's not in doubt? I would expect Pakistan to take the ODI series easily. After all, that matters more than the tests in South Asia, and less to England. I think England will take the test series though.

[Mike]

I'm not so sure England will be pushovers in the ODI series. Fletcher is keen for them to do well in the WC and if they want to be regarded as the best team in the world they need to surpass Australia as the best one-day side as well. With players such as Trescothick, Pieterson, Flintoff, Harmison, Collingwood and Giles I think England should be competitive if they put some value on that series. How long can the ageing Inzamam keep inspiring his players is anybody's guess but if England can get his wicket cheaply on a few occasions then that will help their cause greatly. Apart from Inzamam, the rest of the Pakistan players aren't world-beaters so I think the series will be very competitive and I'm looking forward to that more than the Test series.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Mike

I'm not so sure England will be pushovers in the ODI series [...] Apart from Inzamam, the rest of the Pakistan players aren't world-beaters

Hmmm. You could make a case for Mohammad Yousuf (aka Youhana being an even better ODI player than Inzi: he's certainly right up there. The pair of them fully deserve to be in contention for a world ODI XI. On the bowling front, Navad-ul-Hasan is a superb ODI speciaist. He's currently rated 7th in the world, just behind Vaas. Shoaib Akhtar is also fairly handy in that format (doesn't place the same demands of fitness).

I'd also put Shahid Afridi in contention for a world XI spot as an explosive pinch hitter and effective spinner, plus Abdul Razzaq (a proven ODI all-rounder) though my 3rd choice Pakistan All-rounder, Shoaib Malik, is currently rated 3rd in the ODI rankings (ahead of Pollock).

If you did a combined Xi of England and Aussie players I think it would read as follows:

1. Shahid Afridi
2. Trescothick
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Inzi
5. Yousuf
6. Flintoff
7. Razzaq
8. Collingwood
9. Kamran Akmal
10. Navad-ul-Hasan
11. Giles / Harmison / Jones

You could make a case that a second combined XI (and 'A' team if you like) would also be Pakistan dominated: for all the limitations as a Test outfit the ODI scene looks good!

[Mike]

All I can say Rachael to you or anyone else who attempts to put a combined team together is submit it in the next Fantasy Cricket game and see how it goes. I've been off the mark myself of late although my combined teams have looked good on paper. I agree with your assessment of those players but will they all fire as expected. I think England are on the ascendency and will pull out all stops to win both the Test and ODI series. Please submit your team in the FC if you dare.

[Rachael]

Will you set up the England vs Pakistan FC contest so that we can pick the above side? My guess is that I will not be able to have half that side because of the classification of the players: most of the batsmen can bowl.. and most of the bowlers can bat... and at the very least the "all-rounder" category would include 5 players.

[Mike]

Why don't you create the game yourself? The benefit of that is that you get to place the players in the categories which suit the team make-up you want. For example, you could have:

As batsmen:
1. Shahid Afridi
2. Trescothick
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Inzi
5. Yousuf

As wicketkeeper
9. Kamran Akmal

As all-rounders:
6. Flintoff
7. Razzaq

As bowlers:
8. Collingwood
10. Navad-ul-Hasan
11. Giles / Harmison (and Jones if he plays)

You create the game and I'll score the matches - deal?

[Rachael]

OK.. I'll do it. Is the format 5 batsmen, 2 all-rounders, one keeper and 3 bowlers or is that up to me: can I allow people to select 3 batsmen, 5 all-rounders, 1 keeper and 2 bowlers?

Trescothick (can bowl)
Inzi
Yousuf

Shahid Afridi
Shoaib Malik
Collingwood
Flintoff
Razzaq
*Giles

Kamran Akmal

Navad-ul-Hasan (can bat)
Harmison

If I can't do that I'll put Shoaib Malik and Collingwood as batsmen, Shahid Afridi and Razzaq as all-rounders and Flintoff as a bowler: that last one seems daft... but he's the closest of the lot to being worth his place with his bowling alone.

[Mike]

In a ODI game a manager must pick two players from the all-rounder dropdown list (which players you have in that category is up to you). You need to put at least 4 players in that category so two reserves can be selected.

At least 8 players must go in the batsman category (which players you have in that category is up to you). A manager can choose 4 or 5 "batsmen" and 3 reserves. At least 2 players must go in the wicketkeeper category. A manager chooses 1 keeper and 1 reserve. At least 7 players must go in the bowler category (which players you have in that category is up to you). A manager may choose 3 or 4 "bowlers" depending on how many batsman they've selected.

If you want to have more than two all-rounders in your team you need to put some in the bowling and batting categories. But the minimum number of players available in each category must be met otherwise the system won't accept the game. As an extreme case you could place bowlers in the batting category but players in that category lose 30 points if they get out for a duck. Since many ODI bowlers do get out for a duck do you really want to do that? Any player called an "all-rounder" will lose 15 points if they get out for a duck.