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It was all planned: Woolmer
Pakistan's victory over India was a result of meticulous planning which focussed on containing the famed Indian batting line-up.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:08 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Colombo : Pakistan's victory over India was a result of meticulous planning which focussed on containing the famed Indian batting line-up through innovative field placings and controlled aggression. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said that his team had perfectly implemented the strategy drawn up for the crucial Asia Cup match against India. "Inzamam was perfect with his planning against Sachin. We wanted to keep him off the strike and succeeded to the extent he scored only 40 runs from the first 27 overs," said Woolmer. Everything was planned Time and again, Tendulkar was bowled on his pads and two men were kept in the deep behind square leg, resulting in only a single and the strike being transferred to the non-striker. Woolmer also had his plans against Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, aimed at capitalising on his perceived weakness to short-pitched deliveries. Shoaib Akhtar came round the wicket to Ganguly and aimed short-pitched deliveries at his chest with a short square leg, short mid-on and short midwicket-fielder in place. One of the strategies Woolmer planned and Pakistan adopted in Sunday's game was the sharp throw which fielders sent in to the wicketkeeper even when the Indian batsmen were not attempting singles. Still need consistency "It was under a plan of controlled aggression. If you use it regularly you get used to doing it and when a real opportunity comes along, you are ready for it," said Woolmer. Analysing Shoaib Akhtar's performance, he felt that the fiery speedster could prefer to bowl all his overs in one-day internationals from a short run-up in the days to come. "He was far more consistent when he bowled his final two overs from a short run-up. We discussed this matter after the game and it could come to a stage when he might prefer to bowl all his overs from a short run-up in future. But it would be strictly Shoaib's call," Woolmer added. Pakistan batsmen also swept the Indian bowlers a lot but Woolmer that said he would have been happy if they had attempted a few reverse sweeps as well. Woolmer, a strong advocate for improved on-field communication between a coach and his team said that he would send the 12th man into the middle with a walkie-talkie in hand. As of now, ICC has banned wired exchanges between a captain and a coach, so the idea would only be implemented from the next tournament onwards. (PTI)
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