London, Nov 26: Former England batsman Graham Thorpe feels the row over the central contracts in view of players` availability for the IPL was distracting Kevin Pietersen`s men in India and urges the England and Wales Cricket Board to give players an ultimatum to sign on the dotted line."I hope England are not distracted by it but in the dressing-room there will be talk and players will be getting offers while they are out here," Thorpe said.
"I hope England are not distracted by it but in the dressing-room there will be talk and players will be getting offers while they are out here," Thorpe said."The board are now at a stage where they should be saying, `Here is a central contract boys, sign it or you play for England on a game-by game basis`", he was quoted as saying.
"If you want to play in the IPL then the players should go but you can`t have everything as a cricketer. As a player you have to focus on being a good cricketer. If you are distracted, you can quickly fall by the wayside if you don`t perform," he added.
Thorpe, who coaches English county team Surrey, feels England have made some tactical mistakes while approaching the One-Day series in India.
"We have been disappointing and have got a few things wrong tactically," he said.
"Our top order has been all wrong. We need players to go out and attack. To make the most of the first Powerplay we need Matt Prior, Luke Wright and Andrew Flintoff as our top three.
"Ian Bell is too static out here as an opening batsman. Kevin Pietersen is an aggressive cricketer but he has got it wrong this time.”
"England have to realise that what works at home doesn`t work in India. With three games to go I hope England are brave enough to re jig the order properly," he added.
Bureau Report