Pakistan Up Date India 18th April
17 Apr 2005
[font=Times New Roman]A series win at last! The signs have been there for this Pakistan team to turn good performances into winning performances that they have finally done so in Delhi against a high powered Indian batting line up is testament to the hard work, to Inzamam’s leadership and to great support from his players. In order to win this series Inzamam had to win the toss on a Delhi pitch that was far from satisfactory and below par for an important one –day international The Square did not have a blade of grass on it and resembled a beach by the end of the game. Saying that Shahid Afridi made the pitch look as though it was the flattest pith in the world he only scored 44 runs today! He launched into the Indian bowlers and for the second time was dismissed defending!
[font=Times New Roman]His blistering start allowed Shoaib Malik and Yousouf Youhana the base to put together a match winning partnership, the real joy of watching these two play is the way that they run between the wickets and place the ball.
[font=Times New Roman]Yousouf unfortunately fell to a run out decision that had plenty of doubt about it. The pitch was never easy and as the day progressed so it became harder to bat on and so that fact that Pakistan were able to reach a total of 300 I felt was an extremely creditable performance. Inzamam injured his back while scoring a powerful and commanding half century and fell to a very wide delivery to Agarkar! The team effort in making this score has epitomized the performances of this tour. India were always going to struggle batting second on this pitch and it was great to see some lively and innovative captaincy from Younis Khan. This augurs well for the future of Pakistan cricket. The combination of Inzamam and Younis has been an important factor linking the old with the new.
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[font=Times New Roman]4-2 the Final score and a pay back in a small way for the visit of India to Pakistan this time last year. We will go away extremely proud of drawing the Test series and winning the one day series. The progress made has been heartening there is always room for improvement and a team must never stand still.
[font=Times New Roman]I would like to add my thoughts on John Wright who finishes at the end of May I believe but will not have any more cricket with the National side. I have known John from 1977 when we used to travel to matches together when I was playing for Kent and John was a young New Zealand cricketer venturing to England for cricket experience. John was a fine player and captained New Zealand like me he coached Kent and from afar it is easy to see the profound effect he has on Indian cricket. He will leave knowing that he has left Indian cricket having made an improvement. He will be in demand and I know after a couple of years he will want to return to the International arena. Now it is time for him to rest, reflect on what he has achieved and spend time with his children. I know from experience that a coach usually cops the flak when the team lose and sits back and smiles when the team wins. John will I know be able to smile a lot, I wish him well in his future and say “well done John you deserve the plaudits!”
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[font=Times New Roman]So from Dharamshala to Delhi via all the venues that have hosted three Test matches and six one-day Internationals, I and the Pakistan cricket team have been involved in what can only be described as a memorable cricket tour. Apart from Dharamshala where we were greeted by snow and cold temperatures fortunately offset by the warmth of their hospitality, we have seen only two hours of rain and many days of sunshine and some really extreme heat down south. In all the areas we have been overwhelmed with the welcome, the friendliness and good humour.
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[font=Times New Roman]The cricket has been tense, exciting and exhilarating, the doom and gloom forecast by so many pundits has fortunately for us been proved dreadfully inaccurate. Our “Pop Gun attack” against the second most formidable batting line up in World cricket has had more gunpowder than expected, as there confidence has grown they in turn have blossomed, indeed they have grown as a force as their confidence has grown and as they have realized that they are better than they are continually told they are.
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[font=Times New Roman]The team has worked very hard and it has been tough not always smooth sailing as we have had to ride some rough waters, however we leave with fond memories, a trophy and with the knowledge that we have been part of something special, thank you to all those who looked after us in India and for your most generous hospitality and we look forward to renewing the battle in January next year.
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[font=Times New Roman]Bob Woolmer
http://bobwoolmer.com/articles/87.htm?BWC=678466182aba232483d4ce96e3eee2bc