England’s Training Methods Under Scrutiny After ODI Whitewash in India

England’s lack of training and preparation during their 3-0 ODI series defeat against India has sparked major criticism from former cricketers and commentators. Following their 142-run loss in the final ODI in Ahmedabad, questions have been raised over the team’s minimal practice sessions, which may have contributed to their struggles.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, while commentating in Ahmedabad, expressed his concerns about England’s casual approach to training.

“From what I’ve heard, England have had 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, as quoted by Wisden.

Adding to the debate, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen alleged that before the final ODI, only Joe Root had trained in the nets, while others skipped practice. He further claimed that Tom Banton, who was recently flown in from Dubai as a replacement for the injured Jacob Bethell, spent the day before the match on a golf course instead of training.

“The two-hour flight from Dubai across here, he [Banton] was on the golf course yesterday,” Pietersen revealed. “He wasn’t batting, and where have the issues come? The start 1-60, 2-80, and then what happens? None of them can play spin. And how do you improve playing spin?”

England’s lack of preparation was reflected in their batting collapse during the final ODI, where they crumbled from 126/2 to 214 all out. The defeat marked a disappointing end to their first ODI series under head coach Brendon McCullum and extended their struggles in the format.

Since the 2023 World Cup, England has now lost 16 out of 23 ODIs, raising concerns about their approach to 50-over cricket. The team has failed to build consistency, and with limited preparation, their performances have suffered.

Injuries have further complicated England’s problems. Jofra Archer was ruled out of the last two ODIs, while Jacob Bethell, who was already struggling, has now been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy. Other players, including Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton, were unavailable due to various fitness issues.

Even during the final ODI, key players such as Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, and Ben Duckett had to leave the field at different times due to injury concerns. The growing list of fitness problems has raised concerns ahead of England’s upcoming Champions Trophy campaign.

With England set to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, squad management and preparation will be a key priority. Their campaign begins with a high-stakes match against arch-rivals Australia on February 22 in Lahore.

While it is worth noting that India also opted not to train before the final ODI, their strong performances throughout the series highlighted the difference in approach and execution between the two teams.