Ex-England Batter Furious With Lack Of Preparation In ODI Series vs India

England spent a terrible three weeks in India, losing both the T20I and ODI series. Their 3-0 clean sweep defeat in the 50-over format, just before the Champions Trophy, has raised questions about their preparation for the game.

It isn’t only the case of the series, but the Jos Buttler-led hasn’t earned a 50-over series victory since they defeated New Zealand and Ireland at home just before the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

England’s poor performance in ODI series vs India

None of the margins of the defeats in the series was small. In the opening clash at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, they failed to defend 248 runs. Their middle-order batting had no answer against the spinners as they failed to carry on after the 75-run opening stand in 8.5 overs.

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A better show in the batting department during the second encounter at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack saw them getting past the 300-run mark. But the bowling didn’t click as Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma put the winning platform with the 136-run opening stand in 16.4 overs. The home side crossed the finishing line with four wickets in hand and more than five overs to spare.

During the third ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the same story continued. Despite sending Rohit back in the pavilion cheaply, they failed to take regular wickets in the middle order. Gill celebrated a century, while Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli notched up respective half-centuries.

In the 357-run chase, they got a 60-run opening stand but again couldn’t extend the good work and were bundled out for just 214 runs. It was their second-heaviest defeat by runs (142) in the format.

Kevin Pietersen shocked with England denying ‘team practice session’ after Nagpur lose

During the visiting side’s chase in Ahmedabad, the former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri, on air, claimed that Jos Buttler’s army had just one net session in the entire trip. While the Indian side turned up for the optional net session in Cuttack before the second fixture, the visitors opted to stay back at their hotel in Bhubaneshwar and enjoy a golf session.

The former batter, Kevin Pietersen, was shocked with the statement. He later clarified that only Joe Root had a net in the past week or two. After Tom Banton arrived in the country two days before the Ahmedabad ODI, he spent the pre-match day playing golf.

“I’m sorry, but I am gob-smacked that England did not have ONE team practice session since losing the 1st ODI and losing the T20 series. How can this be? Seriously, how? I believe Joe Root was the only player to have a net this series, post-Nagpur.” Pietersen wrote on his X handle at the end of the encounter.

Ex-England batter suggests this to the batters to get better against spinners

The leading run-getter for England in the three-match ODI series was their opening batter, Ben Duckett, who drilled 131 runs in three innings at an average of 43.67. Root also cracked 112 runs in three innings at an average of 37.33.

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“There isn’t a single sportsman on this planet who can honestly say that they’d improve without practicing whilst they’re getting beaten. There also cannot be one player in that England side that can sit on the plane leaving India and say to themselves, they did everything they could to try to help England win.” Pietersen expressed this on the social media platform.

“And for that, I am incredibly sad this evening. Losing is fine if you’re giving your best to improve every day, and if England didn’t train during this series, then they didn’t try. Heartbreaking for any fan!” The 44-year-old concluded.

Their opening game of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.