tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/bobsworld/112 2007-03-16T23:35:28Z Movable Type 3.34 tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/bobsworld//112.3683 2007-03-16T23:15:08Z 2007-03-16T23:35:28Z

'We decide that after practice tomorrow we will have a quiet chat with all the players' © AFP

March 14th The players are in the gym at 7am and then a pool session to regenerate the body. Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] and I meet in the morning to discuss where and what we need to do. It is important to reflect on one’s own performance. The Word Cup is about performance and losing leads to retrospection. After chatting, we have coffee with Inzamam and discuss the way forward. We decide that after practice tomorrow we will have a quiet chat with all the players. March 15th Wow what a game between Zimbabwe and Ireland. While we did not need reminding, we saw a very committed Ireland side. Zimbabwe were gutted that they did not beat Ireland when they had the game by the throat. All credit to Ireland for sticking to there task. We had practice at the Kensington Oval [in Barbados], only ten minutes from the ground. We also instituted our chats although Mushy did not join us as he took a blow to the nose, broke it and had a nasty cut while trying to field a ball on a shocking outfield.]]> March 16th We netted at the Kensington Oval and then to Sabina Park for fielding practice, which formed our final preparations for tomorrow’s game. I had lunch with Danish [Kaneria] next to the pool and then went back to the room to catch up with the diary, a couple of articles and our final preparations for the team meeting this evening. We are aware of the importance not just of this game, but both [the remaining games] and are very determined to do well. We are also very disappointed by the articles appearing in our press in Pakistan trying to disrupt the team spirit and would ask those who read this to ignore the drivel!]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/bobsworld//112.3660 2007-03-14T19:30:15Z 2007-03-14T19:44:02Z

I suppose the number 13 is unlucky for some and as it proved it was unlucky for us

'West Indies produced a really disciplined bowling effort' © AFP

March 13th I suppose the number 13 is unlucky for some and as it proved it was unlucky for us. Despite a better than average performance in the field, West Indies produced a really disciplined bowling effort and we were unable to score the necessary runs. It is always hard to lose and I personally do not enjoy it but sometimes you have to swallow the pill and get on with it. Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] was interesting when he said in 1992 that they only started winning at the end. Not much solace as we now have to beat both Zimbabwe and Ireland in order to get through. We will concentrate our minds on this. I shared a couple of cold ones with Ian Gould, ex Middlesex, Sussex and England player, who was on the Arsenal staff for four years.]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/bobsworld//112.3654 2007-03-14T03:47:43Z 2007-03-14T03:56:09Z

Having a laugh with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan at training in Jamaica © AFP

March 10
We leave Trinidad and say goodbye to all our friends and helpers, who were great. We are ferried by bus - I say we because all the teams are about to congregate for the opening ceremony, photographs and the beginning of World Cup. Our flight to Jamaica is two hours and 45 minutes and most of the guys sleep or read. We eventually arrive at Montego Bay, a really beautiful part of Jamaica, and stay at the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel. It is an excellent hotel and it’s a shame that we are not able to have a three-week holiday there! It is not every day that you are able to swim with some of today's great cricketers and lounge around chatting about the game. On the first evening the hosts organised a large welcoming party for all the teams. The president and prime minister of Jamaica were there - and so was a very loud band. They had stationed outside my room, so if I wanted to get to sleep before 11pm I was going to be disappointed. They played some great music and finished bang on 11pm! March 11
It is strange, but the warm-up games – they were nice - did not make you feel like you were quite in the World Cup. At the Ritz Carlton it was easy to realise that the games were on. First in line was the coach, captain and manager meeting, then the captains’ meeting, then the photographs of all the teams and then on to the bus for the opening ceremony. As we travelled in convoy past the paying public you realise just how privileged you are to be escorted through miles of cars bumper to bumper. On arrival at the Trelawny stadium we were ushered to our seats, which unfortunately had no shade. I am not sure, and therefore stand to be corrected, but the sun goes down in the west in the West Indies so we were sitting on the east stand. While we were able to see a magnificent sunset we were also roasted and could see little of the first half of the opening ceremony. However, the second half was excellent and when we walked on to the field to the acknowledgment of the crowd it really all started to sink in. The ceremony went according to plan and we were all back at our pub (fancy calling the Ritz Carlton a pub!) and as we were away the next day we - or at least I - went to bed. March 12
We were again looked after like kings when we were able to check-in our baggage in one of the hotel meeting rooms, then breakfast and off to the plane for our 25-minute flight to Kingston, although I was puzzled that on an internal flight we had to fill-in a customs form! Obviously Montego Bay is just out of this world! After the flight we were supposed to go to Sabina Park for our practice, but unfortunately the new nets were not ready in time - at least the surfaces are still too young - so we went to the Kensington Oval and had three great middle pitches. It is more important to practice on good surfaces than on poor ones. From there we went to have a look at Sabina Park ready for the important game against the West Indies. The pitch looked really good and the new stadium was quite magnificent - a regal setting for the game. To bed tonight perchance to dream of good things. ]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2007:/bobsworld//112.3445 2007-03-11T14:20:49Z 2007-03-11T14:53:04Z

The first of Bob Woolmer's exclusive World Cup diaries from the Caribbean

'We are very hurt by the negativity of a lot of the Pakistan media' © Getty Images

Karachi-Dubai-Dubai-London; overnight in London and, finally, London to Port of Spain, Trinidad. As we touched down in Trinidad it was a great relief, obviously the team were happy to have arrived but all were tired and ready to go to bed, it was therefore with some surprise that we were all up and ready to go at 5am in the morning! Obviously the huge change in time and jet lag had conspired to knock our body clocks for six. We had organised a pool session for noon but could have done it at 9am! We are off to have a light training run in the afternoon followed by a game of football and then back to bed. In fact I went to bed at 6pm waking up at 5am but feel a lot better. We had our first practice 45 minutes out of Port-of-Spain at Couva, the home of the Trinidad cricket academy, where an old friend and colleague of mine coaches - Bernard Julien. The pitches were okay and the bowlers and batters shook the jet lagged cobwebs out of their system and had a good practice. An excellent fielding practice showed that the boys are very determined to do well out here. I should mention that we are very hurt by the negativity of a lot of the Pakistan media and ex players and it is worth noting that this side has represented Pakistan a lot in the last three years. We also hear with pleasure that Sami and Yasir Arafat will replace Shoaib and Asif. Indeed there has been a lot of conjecture as to whether Asif and Shoaib would or would not make it. It is good that we know all know exactly where we stand and we do not have injuries or drug-related issues to worry the team. It is certainly a motivating factor for the boys that they know they carry the responsibility of the Pakistan nation on their shoulders and that they now have to get stuck in. Monday March 5 Early to bed again and up on Monday for a good practice. Everyone looks good. The afternoon was free so I slipped off to watch Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore - two of my favourite actors - in a feel-good movie called Music & Lyrics. I enjoyed it thoroughly and, while not really good enough for an Oscar, it is nice to feel good and come out of a movie house with a smile! The evening was dominated by a trip to Yousu’f friends who run a Lebanese restaurant 10 minutes out of town. The only trouble was that our vbs driver must have taken the wrong route as we took 45 minutes to get there! The food was excellent and the boys had a good, fun evening.]]> Tuesday March 6 Up early as we were due to play Canada and it was an excellent work out. Inzamam tried Younis at No.2 and, although it wasn’t a success, it is worth thinking about. We have a number of opening options and naturally hope that they come off on a positive nature so that we can pressurize the opposition’s bowlers. Although with 0930 starts this may not be the correct tactic as the ball is just doing a bit for 40/45 minutes. Inzamam played well and Hafeez looks in good touch. Kammy played a little cameo and we scored 275 which was always going to be enough. Rana was expensive but very unlucky as well; one ball hit a crack and disappeared for 5 wides and, next ball, the batsman got a huge top-edge and then an inside edge so his figures looked expensive but were in fact unlucky. Our no-ball count was not good and we will address this in our next practice! (Again). Inzamam and Imran Nazir were drug tested in the ICC’s random drug testing policy unfortunately for Inzy he had pee failure for 1 hour and 20 minutes! Very frustrating I can tell you. Mushy and I killed the time taking a walk around the ground for half an hour. Wednesday March 7 In view of the amount of cricket and the amount of travelling we decide to have a fun day at the beach. Unfortunately, the fire alarm ruins our day and we are all evacuated outside while the management and the fire–brigade try and ascertain the cause. Well, after four most frustrating hours, we eventually are given the all clear. But the trip to the beach is cancelled so we go to the pool and the gym for the rest of the day. By the evening we are now 15 in the squad as both Mohammed Sami and Yasir Arafat have arrived and are with the team.

	Don't rush me: nature will take its course (or not, as the case may be) © AFP

Thursday March 8 We have our best practice yet at Couva and the pitches are better than the University of West Indies pitch against Canada and the boys work hard are very focused and I am more than happy with our preparation, unnervingly though this is our last practice before 12th which is the day before the 1st Match against the West Indies. 10th is a travelling day to Jamaica for the opening ceremony 11th is the opening ceremony 12th practice and 13th the game! So we really make the most of it. Friday 9th is our last practice match and the evening before we have gone through our game plans for the tournament whether we bat first or second and on all types of surfaces. It was an excellent meeting. We are back on the Canada pitch again because Ireland and Canada used a new pitch which was not easy in the morning. Canada were in fact bowled out for 116 against a disciplined Irish team who are beginning to make a reputation as the best associate side at the tournament. t is good that they have shown there cards early. We will be treating them as a Full Member game when we play them. Sami and Yasir replace Rao and Rana to give them a run and as we are allowed to name 13 and bat 11 it helps us to give everyone a run. Sami bowls very quickly and with a nice outswing and Gul is coming back into form bowling Smith with a beauty. About 15 overs into he game with he ball behaving a little erratically Kallis approaches the Umpires saying he thinks the pitch is dangerous and feels someone might break a finger. As I am not playing on it and it is difficult not to believe a player of his calibre but with 3500 paid spectators I think it would be wiser to continue. Everyone agrees to continue and the umpires agree to monitor the situation while the ICC representative telephones Keith Richardson who quite correctly leaves it in the hands of the umpires. This delay knocks back South Africa and Danish and Hafeez dig into their middle order with Malik and Gul finishing them off. 200 to win and we are happy that Younis, Yousuf and Malik - along with Hafeez - get time at the crease. The win will give us confidence and momentum against the West Indies on the 13th. All in all it is a good day. Now time to pack and get ready for our trip to the Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay for the opening ceremony. It is an 8am start and lots to do and sort out ready for the next two ceremonial days. It is always nice to win and there is a spring in the step of the players as they board the aeroplane for the 2hour 45 minute flight. The sea is warm in the Caribbean and the boys take advantage. Tonight’s function is to meet the Jamaican President: 7pm, smart casual!]]> tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/bobsworld//112.2970 2006-12-21T10:56:15Z 2007-03-11T14:27:17Z

Did he set goals? Did he know something that we lesser mortals didn't?

'His appealing for the LBW decisions placed umpires under enormous pressure; it was almost an art form' © Getty Images

I am among many cricket folk that would like to pay my respects to the finest legspin bowler in the history of the game. His retirement marks the end of an era. No bowler has dominated world cricket as he has done and I doubt if there will be another as good. It is worth understanding why Shane Warne is so good and for that you will have to understand the hours of work he put into his trade. For those who do not understand cricket and its nuances and the intricacies of leg spin bowling, it is the hardest art form of the game, it is extremely difficult to master and indeed to teach. Warne, it would seem, was a natural from a young age but spent his life perfecting the art. Indeed what drove him to become this perfectionist, what gave him the drive to become better than anyone else? Only he knows! Did he set goals? Did he know something that we lesser mortals didn't? Without asking him we will not be able to unravel the answer to these questions. What we do know is that he became the greatest legspinner ever and tormented and teased the greatest players of this era. Like every bowler he had bad days especially against India in India but as he strives for his 700th Test wicket he becomes in my eyes like Brian Lara scoring 400 runs in a Test innings, as the song goes 'Simply the best'! The ball that defined his career is the ball that Mike Gatting missed and was bowled off stump. Sounds rather mundane and happens quite a few times during every cricket match but this ball was different. It was special. Why was it so special? For those of you who watch tennis, players of the caliber of Federer, Borg, Sampras, McEnroe had the greatest skill of top spin - it is spin imparted on the ball with a racket. Great golfers have this wonderful ability to impart back spin. Top spin allows the ball to dip, swerve and stay in when all of us think the ball is going out. It defines greatness in many sports. The ball that bowled Gatting at Old Trafford swerved and dipped so much because Warne was able to impart such a high degree of spin on the ball with his wrist and fingers. To us all it looked like an innocuous ball drifting down the leg side. Gatting too moved his front leg diagonally across because of its leg side direction. It was a natural but fatal mistake. He was hoping the leg would protect the leg stump. Unfortunately it allowed the ball to pitch probably six inches outside leg stump, from there it spun nearly 14 inches clipping the top of off stump and the story of Warne began.]]> It was a defining moment for him as only a year earlier he had been playing club cricket in England apparently with moderate success. He has since bowled that delivery many times and with very similar results and we have tended to take it for granted. Since then too the mystery flipper, the slider and other types of delivery have invaded our minds and that of the batsmen playing him. Masochistic batsmen want to face him if only to say that Shane Warne bowled me out. Only a few have mastered his flight and guile and, as Mark Taylor said, his thinking. The skill level of Warne is such that he would be able to work batsmen out and bring them into a position by pinpoint accuracy so that when he changed the ball he would trap them. Some years ago, Alec Stewart at Brisbane was teased into playing him off the back foot only to be tempted into a pull shot to a flipper which skidded on and bowled him. It would have been normal except the shot that Stewart was playing made him look like a batsman who played for Peak Freens biscuits third eleven, and make no mistake Stewart was a fine player. The confrontations with Darryl Cullinan were legendary so much so that for a time Darryl was unable to accept that he had a problem; so deep rooted were the psychological scars. Players like Hansie Cronje took him on but also succumbed to his wiles. He was the master of his trade. The mystical aura that enveloped him mesmerised the players he was bowling to. There was an inevitability that he would take wickets - it became just a matter of time. Not everyone liked him and he was the most aggressive spinner on the field. His appealing for the LBW decisions placed umpires under enormous pressure; it was almost an art form. His ability to bowl people out from the rough might have been his greatest skill. The balls turned so prodigiously that they were unplayable. This skill unrepeatable by another other bowler in World cricket often gave Australia a wicket when the pitch was flat. His retirement is a great loss for the game but like everything else in this world you cannot stop the clock and he has chosen his time to end his career. I would have loved to see Bradman bat apart from the films, therefore I am very lucky to have witnessed Warne's bowling. My only regret is that I never had the chance to face him and try perhaps to work him out, which makes me out to be a masochist or plain bloody stupid! I wish him well in his retirement and say thank you for providing myself and all cricket lovers some of the great moments of modern cricket history. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/bobsworld//112.2484 2006-10-23T10:37:04Z 2007-03-11T14:27:18Z

Should the laws of cricket allow groundstaff to use elements other than water, sun and clay to prepare the pitches, should glue be allowed?

The ICC's pitch specialist Andy Atkinson and Tom Moody inspect the Brabourne surface © AFP

In 1999 South Africa toured New Zealand and the first two Tests ended in high-scoring draws. At Auckland, Darryl Cullinan overtook Graeme Pollock’s highest score for South Africa scoring 274 runs. At Canterbury, Herschelle Gibbs scored a magnificent 200. It is worth recalling that both these pitches were treated with glue technology! I questioned then if this was good for the game, and now I repeat this question. Earlier in 1998 at the Commonwealth Games South Africa won the gold medal after playing a semi-final against Sri Lanka which went down to the wire on a pitch that crumbled and broke up. In the final, our pre-match talks revolved around batting first because the pitch favoured the team batting first. However, after taking a look at the pitch we noticed that it had been treated with glue and it was obvious that it would not break up as it had earlier. So Shaun Pollock, on winning the toss, put the Australians in and South Africa went on to win batting second. The glue causes a sheen on the surface and is slightly tacky to walk on and it definitely changes the surface. It also hides the fact that the groundsman has not been able to prepare the pitch properly because of weather, over use or in New Zealand’s case Rugby Union being played on the same surface. ]]> Should the laws of cricket allow groundstaff to use elements other than water, sun and clay to prepare the pitches, should glue be allowed? It would seem that in dire circumstances it might be used to shore up inadequate pitch preparation as was the case in Mumbai. While this is an extreme case I have massive reservations about it being used in a Test and, indeed, even the one-day arena. Incredibly, South Africa who won the toss in Mumbai in their Champions Trophy encounter against New Zealand chose to field first. But such was the nature of the surface that even Stephen Fleming agreed that it was a sub-standard surface. I say “incredibly” as there must have been signs that the pitch would break up! My reservations about using an artificial substance like glue in the Test match arena is that the conditions should remain natural for the longer form of the game and pitches should deteriorate normally as they do. Indeed, the final game at Wellington on the 1999 tour mentioned earlier was played on one of the best cricket surfaces I have seen and a result was achieved with the ball turning on the last day. On the Auckland and Christchurch pitches it was obvious that the surfaces would not deteriorate enough to allow the bowlers to force a result. It would be interesting to see how the glued pitch reacts when water or heavy dew mixes with the glue. Will it make the pitch harder to dry or more sticky? This of course might be a problem during a rain-affected game. I do not know the answers to this and I wonder if they have been researched? The ICC must in my opinion discuss the use of glue for pitch preparation very carefully! I think the use of glue could help at school-level tournaments, clubs etc as they do not have the equipment or knowledge, or where water is at a premium. Children thereby would be able to play on better surfaces than some of them do. There are a number of countries below Test match level too whose soil has very low levels of clay and they too could gain from the use of the glue technology. However, the game of cricket at the highest levels needs natural conditions, as no two pitches are the same and this anomaly is the beauty of the game. In one-day cricket there is solid argument for a surface that remains the same for both innings and if glue assists then it should be used. Especially since, floodlit cricket and early morning starts in the sub-continental winters make it tougher for the groundstaff to prepare pitches that will remain the same. I personally am of the opinion that no artificial substances should be used in the final preparations of a pitch in any form of cricket. The groundstaff have to learn how to prepare a wicket for Test cricket and also for one-day cricket. We live in a modern scientific era where plenty of data is available. In conclusion it is vital that the education of groundstaff includes understanding how soil binds together with root growth, when they should water and when they should roll. tag:blogs.cricinfo.com,2006:/bobsworld//112.2483 2006-10-23T10:31:31Z 2007-03-11T14:27:19Z

Cricket is a great game to play and a fun one to comment on. I would like my blog to reflect the views of the playing and coaching fraternity and I will try and cover as many topics as possible....

Cricket is a great game to play and a fun one to comment on. I would like my blog to reflect the views of the playing and coaching fraternity and I will try and cover as many topics as possible. Including Pakistan, drugs in sport, modern training methods for cricketers, the itineraries that put players in the red zone as far as injuries are concerned and to explain the many myths that surround cricketing technique. Those of you who wish to know more about this game and want to voice their opinion are most welcome to let me know what you are thinking. I will try and address these issues as well as others that occur. Let's get "stuck" into the first one!