India are a poor one-day side: Atherton

The former England captain also takes a dig at the growing age of the team members and their poor fielding, following India's defeat in the 7th ODI.

Passing a rather critical assessment on India's performance in the seven-match one-day cricket series against England, former captain Mike Atherton has termed Rahul Dravid's men as a poor one-day outfit.

HT Image

"The brutal truth is that India, far from being a powerhouse in one-day cricket, are a poor one-day outfit themselves - as the last World Cup proved," Atherton said after India lost the final match by seven wickets.

Atherton also took a dig at the growing age of the team members and their poor fielding.

"They haven't changed key personnel since then, apart from the coach Greg Chappell, and, given their age profile they are a team whose best days are behind them.

"They are completely lacking in athleticism and agility, weak in pace bowling and so badly balanced that England should have beaten them comprehensively," he wrote in his The Sunday Telegraph column.

He did not also spare England for conceding their 3-1 lead at the midway stage of the series and asked them not to get carries way with the win.

"Despite all the unmistakably promising signs, there have been so many false dawns before it would pay not to get too carried away...

"With three matches to go, India were on their knees. That they were somehow able to take this series to the wire says much about how far England still have to travel," he said.