Inzamam struggling with mystery ailment

An already struggling Pakistan side had more cause for worry with Inzamam-ul-Haq showing no signs of recovering from a back problem which had kept him off the field for long periods during the Perth Test, which Pakistan lost by a massive 491 runs. Inzamam underwent bone scans and blood tests in Perth on Monday, Sydney Morning Herald reported, but Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, said that the cause of the worry had still not been diagnosed.

"He's gone through a series of tests because he's got this back and stomach problem. Hopefully he's OK," Woolmer said. "He gets this ailment quite often now, so we need to get it tested out properly. We thought it might be a uric acid problem, but they threw that out. The doctors are going through tests to eliminate each possibility until they know what it is.

"It hurts him bending down, sitting, it hurts him all the time. He told me he will play but that he needs to get it sorted out. It doesn't help him batting. He's restricted. It's a strange ailment. We probably need to get him in the swimming pool." Inzamam is currently on antibiotics to ensure that he plays the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.

There was better news on Shoaib Akhtar, though. Shoaib had hurt his left shoulder while diving in the outfield, but tests revealed that he hadn't torn a cartilege, and was recovering well with physiotherapy.

Meanwhile, there was some help on the cards for the beleaguered Woolmer when he informed that Bob Simpson, the former captain and coach of Australia, had called on him and could work with the team during the Sydney Test. "Bobby Simpson called me, which was very kind," Woolmer told the daily. "We had a long chat about what we were doing. I've always recognised Simpson as the father of international coaches. He took Australia from the depths to winning."

However, Woolmer quickly cautioned that the fans couldn't expect immediate solutions. "He [Simpson] worked miracles in five-and-a-half years," Woolmer said. "You can't work miracles overnight, you need a period of time."

Woolmer also informed that the team had a long and useful meeting after the Perth debacle. "It was very good. Inzamam was excellent and the players responded very well. We had to have a huge reality check on all aspects of the cricket we're playing, and how we practise. All the players said they enjoyed the meeting and are looking forward to the next challenge now. I'm not going to promise anything. At least [the pitches in] Melbourne and Sydney are easier to bat on for Asian cricketers. Perth's always been a tough one."