England coach Brendon McCullum has come down heavily on reports that the team did not train enough during the white-ball tour of India, calling it “factually incorrect”.
The controversy first erupted during the last ODI in Ahmedabad, when former players Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Shastri expressed their surprise while doing commentary after revealing that England had just one training session during the three-match series.
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The series, which India swept 3-0, was an important part of preparations for both the teams ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, beginning February 19. Thus, the revelation of England not training enough invited sharp criticism.
England had also lost the T20I series 4-1 ahead of the ODIs.
“Firstly, it’s factually incorrect, the statement that we don’t train,” McCullum told TalkSport. “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.”
The coach added that they have planned their schedule around managing injuries and the Champions Trophy coming up.
“We have got a style and a method we believe in…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,” said McCullum, before reiterating his stand. “Ultimately, it’s factually incorrect what is being said. We disagree with it and we will stay true to what we believe in.”
England, who are placed in Group B of the Champions Trophy, kick off their campaign with the match against Australia on February 22 in Lahore.
Besides England and Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan are the other two teams in Group B, while Group A comprises India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
