The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Mohali performance was exceptional: Woolmer

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Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Mohali performance was exceptional: Woolmer

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, MARCH 30. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer says that the way his team saved the first Test in Mohali against India in the three-match series is perhaps the most significant moment in recent history. "It gave the boys a lot of confidence for the next two games. Even in Kolkata, though we lost the match, the boys learnt a lot," he told newsmen on the sidelines of the India `A'-Pakistan practice one-dayer at Uppal Stadium here on Wednesday.

Woolmer feels that the current Pakistan team is certainly growing in stature and learning very quickly. What really impressed him about the team? "Well, their commitment and the way they have gelled together on this demanding tour," he said.

Weighing in on the one-day series, the Pakistan coach feels that they have a good balanced side and predicts the series to be exciting. "One-day cricket is a big lottery. On a given day, any team can win," he said. Woolmer says that before the start of the tour, the general impression was that Pakistan was a much better one-day side but things have changed a lot after the Test series. "There have been many high-points on this tour so far. Like the win in the Bangalore Test. Even the Mohali performance was exceptional considering the pressure the team was in," he said.

No mood to complain

The coach is no mood to complain about the hectic itinerary and says it reminded him of the Packer Series in 1978 in Australia when cricketers used to fly from one City to the other within the space of few hours and be on a cricket field. "In Hyderabad also, we arrived around 8.00 p.m. last night and within 12 hours we are on the cricket field."

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