Moores: We were outclassed

Coach confident of improvement

By Simon Dilger   Last updated: 14th November 2008

Moores: We were outclassed

Moores: Expects improvement

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Peter Moores admitted his side had been completely outclassed by India after England crashed to a 158-run defeat in the opening one-day international in Rajkot on Friday.

Despite the defeat however, the coach indicated he was not altogether disappointed with the performance and vowed to bounce back in the remaining matches.

"We were thoroughly outplayed but we need to come back stronger," he said.

"I thought we played okay today but 387 is a very big score.

"We lost wickets throughout and we need to learn how to build a platform. We need to look at that.

"We lost wickets all the way through and there is no way you can chase a big score like that unless you're having a big partnership."

Aggressive

Moores also admitted that the England attack lacked aggression on what he described as a difficult bowling track.

"They scored consistently all the way through," he added. "And we didn't take wickets which means you are under pressure.

"We could have been a bit more aggressive with the ball. It was a tough wicket to bowl on.

But describing Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 78 ball 138 as a 'very special innings' he insisted he had confidence in his pacemen, singling out Andrew Flintoff, who he said bowled beautifully'.

Moores said that England must now put the defeat behind them and he was confident of an improved performance in the second ODI on November 17 in Indore.

Better cricket

"As a unit we have got quick bowlers who are tall and can make the ball bounce so we'll look at that ready for Indore and see what the surface is like over there.

"I thought Freddie bowled beautifully up front, he bowled really, really well but by the end he just couldn't contain it and the ground was small and he (Youvraj) was playing out of his skin.

"We know we have got to pick ourselves up and we have go to play better cricket."