Pietersen backs players to perform
Kevin Pietersen is backing his humiliated England side to bounce back strongly when they are confronted by India for the start of the one-day international series on Friday.
The England captain remained surprisingly unconcerned by the tourists' dismal 124-run defeat in their final warm-up match against a Mumbai XI on Tuesday after they were dismissed for a lowly 98.
"I'm not going to criticise or do anything," stressed Pietersen. "I'll back all the lads in the dressing room to know that when we travel to Rajkot they are going to have their heads on."
He added: "This is just a quick little lesson and a quick little reminder that we need to get back into winning ways - there's no drama."
Pietersen's side were hammered by a side comprising none of Mumbai's squad for the Ranji Trophy, the major India domestic competition, with 23-year-old seamer Kshemal Waingankar ripping through the top order to claim five for 37.
If England needed a wake-up call before facing India this was it with only three players - Samit Patel, Graeme Swann and James Anderson - reaching double figures in reply to Mumbai's 222 for seven.
The atmosphere in Rajkot will certainly be different with a packed crowd expected and pressure on India to continue their winning run after beating Australia in the Test series.
"It's a tough few lessons we need to learn," admitted Pietersen. "It's competitive cricket and there is a need to respect opposition and make sure we go and do the business.
"But there are no dramas. If we did this in the internationals three or four games in a row then there is a drama, but this is not it."
