Under his guidance both South Africa and Pakistan have become the second-best Test side in the world, and during his two spells with Warwickshire the county won five trophies and were widely considered the team to beat.
“Getting to number one has been a bit iffy,” said Woolmer of his Test experience, with a frustrated edge to his voice, even though I intended a compliment when I brought the point up. They are just passionate about being better than anybody else.”I don’t think it is like that in other countries. Pakistan are currently rated as the second-best Test side in the world, but their inability to oust Australia obviously irks him.”Without wishing to make excuses I think that the Australian system is the best,” he said. At times he goes off at a tangent, yet he is fascinating to listen to. Woolmer is probably the best coach England have never had. The visitors led by 73 runs, having reached 202 for 1 by stumps after Leicestershire’s 515.. The first thing that strikes you about Bob Woolmer, the former England cricketer and current Pakistan coach, is his enthusiasm for the game.

Within minutes of sitting down with him in the players’ dining room at the County Ground, Northampton, he is talking passionately about any aspect of the game you wish to discuss. Captain Ronnie Irani’s 145 included 17 fours and a six.Jon Lewis clambered to the top of the first-class wicket-taking list as Gloucestershire put the squeeze on Worcestershire at New Road The England bowler took4 for 72, 54 wickets for the season. But as Lewis tired and the pitch eased, the home side recovered from 47 for 6 and established a lead of 164 on closing at 169 for 9.The Guildford pitch left a result unlikely as Surrey reached 632 for 6 in response to Somerset’s 688 for 8 declared.Michael Di Venuto scored an unbeaten 131 as Derbyshire tried to set Leicestershire a target at Grace Road. Murray Goodwin scored a century off just 32 balls as Sussex declared on 379 for 3 from 56.5 overs, a lead of 420. Goodwin ended up making 156 from 50 balls from declaration bowling.In the Second Division, Essex reached 452 for 9 in reply to Glamorgan’s 474 by stumps on the third day at Chelmsford.

Rashid could hardly have had a more auspicious start – taking 6 for 67 with his leg-breaks in Warwickshire’s second innings.
Middlesex require 421 from a minimum of 96 overs to beat Sussex on the final day at Southgate, after the sides colluded to make a game of a First Division match heading to a stalemate. Yorkshire wrapped up a comfortable victory over Warwickshire at Scarborough yesterday, winning by an innings and 96 runs. Warwickshire’s chances of staving off defeat were dented by the dismissal of Jonathan Trott to the last ball before lunch, as they looked to improve on a first-innings total of 201 after Yorkshire’s 536-run second-innings reply. The opener Ian Westwood (80) followed after lunch, trapped lbw by Adil Rashid. Nick Knight carried the fight to Yorkshire, but his dismissal for 58 left his side fighting a lost cause.