Brendon McCullum dismisses Ravi Shastri and Kevin Pietersen's false comments about ENG training

England's performance leading into the 2025 Champions Trophy has been heavily criticized due to their disappointing results in the three-match ODI series against India. The team's lack of intense training sessions, specifically skipping nets sessions in favor of playing golf, has raised concerns about their preparation and commitment. Despite head coach Brendon McCullum's dismissal of these claims, it is clear that England's subpar performance was a result of their unconventional training approach.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen put up a few especially passionate rants while commentating on the match and after, with former head coach Ravi Shastri also joining in. “Firstly it's factually incorrect, the whole statement that we don't train. 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,” McCullum told TalkSport after the match.

McCullum didn't deny that England didn't have many net sessions after the first ODI, with the accusation being that they had just one net session after losing the first ODI in in Nagpur. The former New Zealand captain said that the team is trying to keep players fit amid a rising number of injuries. “We have got a style and a method we believe in, guys who are batting injuries. (We are) 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. “Ultimately it's factually incorrect what is being said. We disagree with it and we will stay true with what we believe in.”

England's forgettable buildup to the Champions Trophy

England lost the first two ODIs to India by four wickets, although the result doesn't really reflect what extent they were behind, as the hosts had collapsed in the end while trying to hit their way to the target. England then lost the third ODI by 142 runs. Pietersen had been critical of the England batters.

Only Ben Duckett, Joe Root and captain Buttler could get half-centuries from among the visitors and Duckett's 65 in the second ODI was the highest score by an England batter in the series. England have lost all four of the ODI series they have played since their group stage exit in the 2023 World Cup. They have won just four out of the 14 ODIs they played in this period.

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