Too many cooks (captains) will spoil the broth

Undated, (UNI) Well, the one-day series is over and can be buried instantly considering the hurried but thoughtless nature of the game.

Admittedly, the climatic conditions were more hostile than the Indians at full strength. But even so the fight of the Englishmen was more in the shape of hope and prayer than any solid version of a calculated revenge. I have never known a professional English cricket team with so many loose ends. In short this team under Flintoff was soulless, characterless and pretty aimless.

Not that the Indians were far superior or for that matter, heat and dust were not any less for the hosts, but the bankruptcy of English tactics and team selections made it easier for the home team. Despite four-nil series win, Indians have more problems on their hand then the tourtists can envisage.

Somewhere down the line both the BCCI and the ECB will have to use basic commonsense to plan tours with better humane understanding. Modern cricketers are not part of any circus, hence to get the best out of them, they need to be provided with better playing conditions, especially keeping moderate weather in mind. We can surely avoid the avoidable cruelty to our famed flanneled heroes.

The playing surfaces provided in all the four one-dayers were awfully substandard. Playing to one's strength was the Indian plea perhaps. But the basic concept of one day cricket was destroyed thus. With all the manual and mechanical back up staff at the disposal of modern players, do we still need rubbish tracks to play on? Also, should the physical fitness of players be so poor? The tourists are carrying loads of excess baggage. Even on the skill operations, the Poms are relying heavily on Pietersen and Flintoff.

The former has given us glimpses of his arrogant class, briefly though. But the England captain has often perished going for big shots and the rest are as spineless as they come. Not once have England lasted full quota of 50 overs in four outings. I suppose that says it all.

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