Inzamam delighted with total team effort

'This is one of the biggest wins of my career' © AFP

Given that it was Pakistan's first series win for two years, as well as the first under Bob Woolmer, an understandably exultant Inzamam-ul-Haq called the 2-0 series win against England one of the best he has played in during his 13 years as an international player. "This is one of the biggest wins of my career. It was a total team effort and I would not single out any one player. They really worked hard and at the right times we performed in the series."

England arrived in Pakistan with six successive series wins behind them including the Ashes summer triumph. With Pakistan's poor recent home record, few people thought a 2-0 home win likely, but Inzamam said he had always been confident of a good performance. "A lot of people had ruled us out before the series but we had performed well and I had the confidence that we would do better and would win. We were playing in our home conditions and that was a plus, but we still need improvement in all three departments."

Michael Vaughan, in his post-series comments, highlighted the role of Shoaib Akhtar, citing him as the ultimate difference between the two teams. With 17 wickets, an awakening with the bat, a reformed attitude and a recovered knack for striking when necessary, it is difficult to argue the case against. But as Inzamam has highlighted through the series, and in the past, Pakistan have performed well collectively.

"Shoaib has performed very well in this series. He put his wholehearted effort and it is always necessary that all your players do the best. But in all three Tests our bowlers put up their best efforts; Shoaib, Rana, Sami and Kaneria all got us crucial wickets on pitches that weren't always conducive to the bowlers."

This spirit has coincided with the arrival, in June 2004, of Bob Woolmer and Inzamam was quick to pay tribute to his work since then. "Bob has played a key role in the team's win. This is his first series win and he has helped us improve in all departments. If any player needs his help he goes there, listens to the problem and then provides a solution. His contribution has been crucial."

Although the series victory was already assured after Pakistan piled on 636 for 8, today's result remained in doubt. On a placid pitch, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood had seemingly steered England to safety at lunch. They went in at 201 for 2, with the partnership contributing 171. Four balls and four runs after lunch, Collingwood's dismissal opened the door for Pakistan, sparking a momentous collapse, the speed of which shocked even the unflappable Inzamam.

"We knew it was a matter of one wicket because the bowlers were bowling well and I had hopes that with one wicket we could do it. To break the partnership was crucial for us and once Kaneria provided us with two wickets we knew we were there. But I never thought that we would get eight wickets so quickly."

Inzamam, however, maintained that England were still a strong side. "I think the difference between the two sides was not much because at Multan they were dominant for four days and we only won it because of our bowlers at the end. And getting England out here cheaply in the first innings was crucial too. But they are still a strong team. They not only won the Ashes but have won six Test series in the recent past. Even though England have lost the series I would say we played well to win it."

Inzamam's own performance throughout the series has been phenomenal, as 431 runs, two hundreds and three fifties bear testament to. It prompted in him a rare admission that he was batting at his peak. "I have scored runs when the team needed and I don't think I have performed so consistently in a series before this. I hope to continue doing this for some time."