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| May 31, 2005 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1426 |
We will fight back in 2nd Test, vows Woolmer
BRIDGETOWN, May 30: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer on Sunday vowed to stage a fight back in the second Test starting at Sabina Park, Kingston (Jamaica) from Friday. “We were simply outplayed by West Indies. We didn’t play Test cricket well enough. Since I have been involved with the team we haven’t played well in Test cricket apart from a couple of occasions.
“It was very a disappointing performance and what can I say. Our team has not performed well against West Indies in Barbados,” he maintained.
“We will be coming back with full force in the second Test to draw the series,” he stressed.
“We have got to be more consistent and play a better brand of Test cricket,” he said.
“It was difficult enough without Inzamam and Malik, and Youhana also had to leave for home.”
West Indies batted and bowled very well. Lara was magnificent and Chanderpaul was very good. They are experienced players,” Woolmer said.
“We did not play Test cricket. They did not play behind the ball and straight and playing too many shots square of the wicket on new ball. “All these things we have to stop. It is not that the boys are not trying hard. It’s just application and technique in situation.
He said players had to adjust to the situation after the one-day series. “We have got to learn how to adapt to different situations,” Pakistan coach said.
“West Indies adopted that quite comfortably and we have to do it as well.”
Regarding reported infighting in the team, he said the issue was blown out of proportion. “There was a minor misunderstanding and it caused concern for a while but should not have affected the team in the middle.
“They have got to do a job when they are in the middle,” he said.
“Quite frankly situation is quite under control. It did affect the team for a short while that is gone.”
People shouldn’t make more of it than really is,” he pointed out.
“It was a wonderful innings by Afridi. In that session we scored 160 runs. It was an amazing innings. Had Afridi stayed there till tea we would have been in a winning position.”
He refused to comment on a few very vital umpiring decisions but supported the introduction of technology.
He said technology is the same for both teams. Each umpire will make his own decision with the help of technology.
“I would comment about umpiring to ICC coordinator,” he said. However, he said “we have seen a lot of decisions go against us and we are also not playing well”.—APP
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