England moan over practice facilities

England cricketers have slammed their practice facilities in India ahead of a six-match one-day series starting next week.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said on Sunday the team was frustrated because of the lack of proper arrangements at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CCFC), where the side has been asked to practice.

"We're very frustrated because we expected better facilities," Fletcher told reporters.

"Excuses are being given in the name of security. The Deputy Commissioner of Police told us there would be no problems if we played at the Eden Gardens but the Indian board said we'd be more secure here," he said.

The series opens on January 19 at Calcutta's famous Eden Gardens stadium, which seats over 100,000 people, but the England team has been asked to practice at the CCFC ground because preparations for the match are underway at the venue.

"We've complained to people but we haven't got any response," Fletcher said.

"The wickets here (CCFC) are not conducive and you can't play shots that you can in one-day internationals. Besides we've been allowed to practice only for one-and-a-half hours in the afternoon, which is not adequate," he added.

England had lost a Test series 1-0 in India late last year and are back for the one-dayers after going back home for a Christmas break.

Fletcher said there had been no problems during the Tests.

"When we first came for the Test series, we had very good practice facilities in Bombay. We were hoping they would be decent here too," he said.

But India's cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said he was confused by the complaint.

"Why are they making a fuss now?" Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, asked Reuters.

"The arrangements were known beforehand. We have to accommodate 100,000 people at the Eden Gardens and arrangements are being made there. But we are still letting the England team practice there under lights on the 15th and 18th," he said.

The one-day series ends early next month in Bombay, from where the England team travel to New Zealand for a Test and one-day series.

Mail Cricket Editor