September 06, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 12, 1427

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SOUTHAMPTON, Sept 5: Pakistan's bowlers were woken from their reverie as England posted a decent first innings total for the first time in the series. Even so, England's score was made possible by the Rose Bowl's beautiful batting wicket and electric outfield.

This was an important examination and reminder for Pakistan's bowlers who should not be lulled into thinking that they can take the conditions of Lord's and Sophia Gardens with them wherever they go. It was also a timely test of pressure for Pakistan 's batsmen who will be expected to regularly chase totals of over 250 and sometimes 300 if they are to have a realistic chance of winning the Champions Trophy and the World Cup.

Midway through this one-day series Pakistan are being enthusiastically discussed as favourites for both tournaments. The English media, including experienced former Test cricketers and wizened journalists, are drooling over the number of match-winners that Pakistan possesses.

It is not easy to evaluate the quality of a run chase under September lights in England, and the experience will bear little resemblance to night-time conditions in India or the West Indies. Nonetheless, the balance of Pakistan's team has looked so perfect that predictions of World Cup glory are not mere fantasy.

Experienced Pakistan watchers will now be reaching for their sedatives. We have been here before — many times. The difference between success and failure for Pakistan's team is often impossible to fathom.

Indeed, all this euphoria might be rendered irrelevant by Pakistan's geriatric fielding, which is an important advantage that Australia hold over Pakistan. The intervention of Jonty Rhodes is looking increasingly useless. As one story goes, when Inzamam-ul-Haq was asked why Pakistan's fielding was worse after the South African's coaching, his reply was that Rhodes had left after giving the team all the wrong advice.

The current surge in form has been explained by Younis Khan as a consequence of increased bonding since the Oval controversy. Pakistan require something to spur them on, says Bob Woolmer, and Darrell Hair is that spur. The question is whether or not this unity of purpose will survive until the World Cup. It may not last until the Champions Trophy.

But while Pakistan are so focused they are a world-beating force — and entertaining into the bargain. Woolmer believes that the first team picks itself with the only question being around who might be the three or four reserves.

Pakistan are blessed with world class acts in three important areas. Their opening bowlers rival Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee for the position of world's premier opening partnership, and the middle order of Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, and Inzamam is second to none. The third area of world class is in aggressive lower order all-rounders where Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq make Pakistan the only team in the world to unleash two such human hurricanes.

While some might question the positions of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, Hafeez has done enough on this tour to deserve an extended run and Malik has the support of Pakistan's think tank.

Both are much less likely to be found out on the wickets of India or the West Indies, and both offer bowling options that will suit those wickets and take Pakistan's complement of bowlers to seven — an option that few other teams will be able to match.

Pakistan 's main worry seems to be how to keep its players fit for the World Cup, particularly its opening bowlers. Woolmer's view is that it may be that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will not play in tandem in every Test between now and March. That doesn't mean that Pakistan will be content to lose Test matches, rather that they will not risk injury.

The World Cup, it seems, is now the main outcome measure that the reign of Inzamam, Woolmer, and Shaharyar Khan will be judged by. Realistically, with so many players in their prime, this will certainly be Pakistan's best opportunity to win the crown since 1999.