| Player: | Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam-ul-Haq |
| Event: | England in Pakistan 2005/06 |
Coach Bob Woolmer Sunday praised his England-conquering Pakistani team, saying skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq was a "giant" and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar an "asset".
"Inzamam has been a giant, literally, in this series," Woolmer said a day after Pakistan thrashed England by an innings and 100 runs in the third and final Test here to clinch the series 2-0.
"Inzamam played like a champion and our batting revolved around him in the series," he said of Pakistan's first Test series win during his stint as coach.
Inzamam was named man of the series for scoring 431 with two hundreds and three half-centuries. He also completed 8,000 Test runs and set a new Pakistani record of 24 hundreds.
"The most important thing I have learned as a cricket coach is that the captain has to lead from the front," said Woolmer.
"The coach acts as a right-hand man. The way Inzamam led the team with his batting has been phenomenal. He has a very wise head and is growing as a captain as well now. He is very important to Pakistan at the moment."
This was Pakistan's first Test series victory under Inzamam's captaincy since beating New Zealand in January 2004.
Woolmer said he was also pleased with Akhtar, who had promised before the series he would give his best against England.
The fast bowler did not let his coach and team down, claiming 17 wickets to three Tests.
"Shoaib is an asset when he is fit and playing. He had some issues to resolve when he arrived and he has resolved them. He is now delivering," said Woolmer, who had a love-hate relationship with the ace paceman.
"This is exactly what Pakistan need. It was wonderful to see Shoaib firing on all cylinders. I am really pleased."
Woolmer said the victory was a huge boost to the team ahead of a busy international schedule.
"It is a huge milestone for us," said Woolmer, a former England batsman who took over as Pakistan's coach in 2004.
"We needed to play better cricket against England and this was precisely what we did. The boys worked really hard. It is a big boost to beat England who had just won the Ashes."
Pakistan now take on England in five one-dayers before hosting India early next year for three Tests and five one-day internationals.
The first one-dayer against England begins here on December 10.
(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)