England’s batting let us down yet again, says Cook

Cook’s team have failed to build major totals throughout the limited-overs tour, with batsmen frequently falling short of the big totals that appear to come so naturally to this side in Test cricket.

In Mumbai yesterday they lost by six wickets after being bowled out for 220, a total India overhauled by a six-wicket margin.

Cook said: “We fell short again. Lots of our top order got in but it’s been quite similar on this tour...30s and 40s.

“In Indian conditions you have to get 70, 80, 90 to push up towards 300.

“It’s hard for new batsmen coming in and you can lose wickets in clusters. We did that today.”

His victorious counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni was pleased by his side’s efforts once again, particularly in their traditional weak discipline of fielding, and is eyeing a 5-0 clean sweep in Kolkata tomorrow.

“We will try our best for 5-0. We have played good cricket overall and we’d like to end on a good note.

“We’ll have to play good cricket again and we will be well prepared to win the last one.

“The youngsters in this side are very good fielders. Even the fast bowlers are new and fresh and they can put in a bit more effort.

“All the guys are giving more than 100 per cent in the field and in close games 10 runs can matter.”

Continued heavy rain meant no play was possible for the second day running at the first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies.

The downpours left the ground in Chittagong saturated on the third morning, with puddles again dotting the outfield.

Bangladesh will go into day four on 255-4 in their first innings, with captain Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 68.