England endured a nightmare in their just-concluded white-ball tour of India. While the Three Lions conceded the ODI series 0-3, they suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of India in the five-T20I series.
During the third ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday (February 12), former India head coach Ravi Shastri and ex-England captain Kevin Pietersen didn’t mince any words as they strongly criticized the Jos Buttler-led side for not holding enough practice sessions.
Speaking on-air, Shastri made a shocking revelation that the English team had just one net session during the India tour and slammed their unserious attitude before the Champions Trophy 2025.
"From what I've heard, England have had just one net session this entire trip, if not any. If you're not prepared to do the hard yards, you're not going to improve,” Shastri said.
Pietersen, who was also present in the commentary box, added some more to the claim as he revealed that Tom Banton, who joined the England squad as a replacement for Jacob Bethell, was practising golf on the eve of the third ODI against India.
Amid the criticism, England head coach Brendon McCullum has dismissed claims that his team did not train enough over the course of the series.
McCullum also stated that they had to prioritise fitness of players due to injuries in the side with the Champions Trophy around the corner.
“Firstly it's factually incorrect, the whole statement that we don't train. We train plenty right throughout, guys have come from (playing) a lot of cricket as well. It's an easy thing to have as a throwaway line, saying guys aren't training hard enough when results aren't right,” McCullum told TalkSport after the match.
“We have got a style and a method we believe in, guys who are batting injuries. (We are) trying to make sure we have got enough bodies out in the field knowing that we have a huge assignment coming up in a week or two,” he added.
“Ultimately it's factually incorrect what is being said. We disagree with it and we will stay true with what we believe in,” he continued.
After the debacle in India, England will need to turn things around quickly ahead of the Champions Trophy, slated to get underway on February 19 in Karachi. They will begin their campaign against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on February 22.
