Coach Bob Woolmer believes Pakistan can rebound from the purgatory of Perth and make a game of the Boxing Day cricket Test with high-flying Australia here on Sunday. Pakistan received criticism from all quarters for their abject 491-run loss to the Australians before lunch on the fourth day of the first Perth Test, but have to face the music again in the second game of the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Amid a flood of offers for help from outside the team, Woolmer said the most constructive session the side had was an honest self-appraisal the day after the Perth capitulation.
"They're not down, they're very hurt," Woolmer said Saturday when asked if his players could bounce back.
"I've seen them rebound from situations like this. They're very disappointed in themselves and they now know they have to come out and fight hard and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Pakistan are yet to finalise their side, but captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will play despite battling a problem with the sacroiliac joint in his lower back, which causes discomfort when he hunches over his bat.
Paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who suffered a shoulder scare in Perth, will also play although Pakistan must find another way of accelerating his over rate as he is not prepared to shorten his lengthy run-up.
Woolmer said the team would put an emphasis on jogging between overs in the field to ensure the over rate did not crawl.
The English coach said Pakistan's batsmen did not need to adjust their techniques against Australia's bowlers, but instead needed to show more care outside off stump than they did in Perth.
Ten of the 13 Pakistanis out caught in the first Test were snapped up behind the wicket as Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz exploited the touring batsmen's inability to cope with the extra bounce and pace of the WACA Ground wicket.
But Woolmer expected his batsmen to cope better on the MCG's drop-in pitch, which should play much slower and lower.
"Nothing's changed, the game doesn't change, it was just on a particular situation in Perth we played loosely outside off stump and paid dearly for it and that was the difference," he said.
"So there's not massive technical changes, we're not changing people's techniques.
"There's a lot of 'We're doing this, this, this and that', but we're just trying to keep it very simple."
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has ruled himself out of the second test against Australia starting on Sunday due to a back injury.
"I have been advised to rest for three weeks by doctors. My back is sore and hurting," he told Reuters by telephone after undergoing medical tests.
His absence in Melbourne will be a big blow for Pakistan, who were crushed by the world champions by 491 runs in the first test. The captain, however, had a wretched time in Perth, dismissed for one in the first innings and, clearly in pain, a duck in the second.
Inzamam said he was not yet sure about playing in the third and final test in Sydney. Pakistan are then due to take part in a triangular one-day tournament against Australia and West Indies.
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