LONDON, July 23: Under guidance of coach Bob Woolmer Pakistan have become second-best cricket Test side in the world.

“Getting to number one has been a bit iffy,” said Woolmer of his Test experience.

Pakistan are currently rated as second-best Test side in the world, but their inability to oust Australia obviously irks him.

“Without wishing to make excuses I think that Australian system is the best,” he said.

“I don't just mean in the way their domestic cricket is organised – it is the way in which they play their cricket. It is type of people they are. They are just passionate about being better than anybody else.

“Pakistan want to be the best but at the moment they don't have structure to get them there.

“With current England team there may have been a feeling from within that they had reached their goal when they won the Ashes and now they could walk back down mountain again, rather than saying, 'let's stay here and build on what we have.'

“Very few teams manage to keep things going. Manchester United have done it, as have Australian cricket team.

“These teams have a great platform. They are not constantly chopping and changing and they show continuity. Credit must be given to Duncan Fletcher (England coach) for trying to keep the team solid.

“He has been hampered by injury, as we are all are, but he is trying to show continuity.”

Asked whether he is disappointed not to have coached England, country he played 19 Tests and six one-dayers for between 1972 and 1981. Woolmer says: “I'd be lying if I said I wasn't.

“It would be interesting to coach England but I don't know whether I will have physical ability to do it. If I was to do it I would have to sit down and look at English cricket and say where would I take it.

“A lot of cricketers I work with in Pakistan side did not have a lot of coaching when they were young and, because of this, I have learnt that coaching cricket is not an exact science.

“Any book that says you must do this or that if you wish to succeed is not totally correct. There may be a holy grail to batting, bowling and fielding but it does not apply to everyone.

Asked how far he thinks current Pakistan side can go. “Working with Pakistan has been a wonderful experience,” he says.

“With them I am learning something new every day. I am currently writing a book on coaching. It has taken six years and, mainly through my work with this side, I have re-written batting chapter four times.

“I think they can win World Cup. I really believe that if we can get everyone fit and firing we will be a hugely difficult side to beat. We have firepower to bowl sides out, we have accuracy to limit run-scoring in middle of innings and we have several very talented batsmen.

“To win the World Cup you have a team that can take Australia on and beat them at their own game. Pakistan have that side,” Woolmer said.—Agencies