England coach Duncan Fletcher launched a stinging attack on the Indian authorities for denying his players adequate practice facilties. Fletcher was expecting to be able to prepare at the Eden Gardens stadium but instead was sent to the nearby Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CCFC), where the practice wickets were damp and the netting had holes in. "The batsmen struggled and the bowlers could not go flat out," said the usually diplomatic Fletcher. "We've complained, but we haven't got any response. The wickets here are not conducive and you can't play shots that you can in one-day internationals. Besides, we've been allowed to practise for only one-and-a-half hours in the afternoon, which is not adequate."

Fletcher's temper did not improve when on Saturday England arrived at the CCFC at the allotted time and had to wait half an hour as there was a game in progress. When the floodlights were turned on it was soon apparent that they were inadequate for any meaningful practice.

England's preparations for the series have been cut short by the agreement to play on extra one-dayer on January 19. Instead of having two warm-up matches in Mumbai, where they would have had use of the well-appointed Wankhede Stadium, England were diverted to Calcutta. That they have now been shoved to an outground has left Fletcher fuming.

"Having been forced to add another one-day international to our schedule and cut down our preparation, we expected decent facilities," Fletcher said. "I think we could get them at Eden Gardens. The excuse we've been given is that it's for security reasons but the Deputy High Commissioner of Police has told us that he would be happy for us to practise there. In fact, he would prefer it because it would make the security a lot easier."

Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Indian cricket board (BCCI), said he was confused by the complaint. "Why are they making a fuss now?" he said. "The arrangements were known beforehand. We have to accommodate 100,000 people at Eden Gardens and arrangements are being made there. But we are still letting the England team practise there under lights on the 15th and 18th."

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