Woolmer warns Pakistan not to judge England on Ashes

Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer warned his team on Sunday not to judge England on the Ashes series results and to plan well for a hectic programme leading up to the 2007 World Cup. After a well-deserved four-month rest, Pakistan take on England in a three-match Test and five-match one-day series which starts in November, which kicks off a non-stop cricket, culminating in the big event in the West Indies.

"England are currently rated number two in the world, and it would be very foolish to even consider that they might be battered after the Ashes," Woolmer told the AFP news agency.

England succumbed to a demoralising 239-run defeat in the first of five Ashes Tests against Australia at Lords last week and face a huge task to lift themselves for the second Test starting at Edgbaston on Thursday. "Obviously England may turn the Ashes around," said Woolmer. "I doubt it, but they might - and if they do, they would be a very buoyant side. But still England have done well over the last 18 months and one can never underestimate them."

Woolmer disagreed that Pakistan should prepare spin-friendly pitches to defeat England. "Not at all, all we have to do is to produce good cricket pitches and then select a balanced team," said the 57-year-old coach. "We have to adapt to the situation and the plan should be to win in all situations."

Woolmer, a former England batsman who also coached South Africa, took over the Pakistan team in June 2004 and his tenure runs until the World Cup. Woolmer said he would sit down with captain Inzamam-ul Haq and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan to sort out a strategy to lead a strong team into the World Cup.

"We need to pull out a strategy to handle this terrific workload, and we need to be careful that we don't burn the guys out and on the other hand make sure that we have a settled team before the World Cup," said Woolmer. "Pakistan have taken some good strides in the last 12 months. It's not easy to judge, but what I see is a very strong team spirit and high commitment level."

Under Woolmer's tenure, Pakistan lost 3-0 to Australia but squared the Test series 1-1 against Sri Lanka, India and the West Indies. "We are a settled one-day side and have done quite well but have a way to go in Test match cricket," he said. "Specifically our bowling needs to be more accurate and more committed."

Pakistan plan to hold short training camps before their home series against England, to be followed by another home series against India early next year. Pakistan also host the six-nation Asia Cup in February before they tour Sri Lanka and England next year.