Mohali, Dec 23: England coach Peter Moores said his bowlers lacked variation in both the Tests which eventally cost them a 0-1 defeat to India in the two-match series that concluded here on Tuesday. Giving full credit to India for the series victory, Moores said the hosts were definitely the better team in both the Tests, especially during the successful run chase in the first Test in Chennai.
Giving full credit to India for the series victory, Moores said the hosts were definitely the better team in both the Tests, especially during the successful run chase in the first Test in Chennai."All credit should go to India, they played better than us. I think in Chennai our bowlers lacked variation. From the bowling point of view we had very few options. In England, we practice long variation which is seam and swing," Moores said.
"If we look back at the series, we bowled very poorly with the new ball. We also didn`t take the opportunities, and it was a fantastic run chase by India," he added.
He, however, was of the view that although scoreboard speaks differently, his bowlers had put up a much-improved show here. "I think England bowlers bowled very well here but it`s hard to say when you see India scoring 450. The pitch was trully playing well."
The English coach also admitted that his batters found it hard to step up the gear in the second innings in Chennai against Zaheer Khan and company.
"We found it hard in Chennai. When you bowl outside the off stump and hang it out there with a reversing ball, it`s very hard to get on with the scoring rate and that`s what they did. Zaheer Khan was very good at it. "The intent was there to try and push the scoring but I still think 387 on board with four sessions to bowl them out was a fantastic opportunity, but we didn`t take it," Moores said.
Bureau Report