Lack of partnerships did us in: Flower

After beating India black and blue in their backyard, Team England was high on confidence on reaching India for the ongoing tour. They had everything going right -- from form to momentum. The only negative was, perhaps, the conditions. 

In the end, it was a reversal of fortunes following a clinical One-day performance from the home team, resulting to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

- Expect a slow turner at the Wankhede, says curator

Coach Andy Flower was the first one to admit that it was the lack of partnerships that's made life miserable for his team.

"We came here high on confidence after beating India in the summer. So it was disappointing the way things have panned out in the series so far," said Flower, in a select media conference at the team hotel in Mumbai on Friday. 

"What did us in was the lack of partnerships. I mean, in the first two games, the highest partnership individual score was 60, the highest score was 71. Now you can't win matches in the subcontinent with those figures.

"We will now try and improve in the last two games and learn whatever we can from the last two One-dayers," he added.

Asked whether the team lacks an aggressive captain, Flower said it would be wrong to compare Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss.

"I don't think its fair to compare (Andrew) Strauss and (Alastair) Cook. Obviously, Cook has taken over the captaincy, so one needs to give him some time," he said.

 "But Cook is highly regarded in the dressing room, well-respected among players. I believe he conducts himself in the right manner and is a role model," he added. 

Quizzed about England's players venting their frustrations on the pitch, Flower said openness and honesty are two key factors that prevail in the team's dressing room. 

"Openness and honesty are two main pillars on which we bank upon, and I think that's one of the main reasons why we have had lot of success in a couple of years.

"It's been a part of our strength, but having said that one needs to find a balance between the two.

"Like any other side, our side is not perfect. We were all trying to improve each other in all sorts of ways. Sometimes we get that balance right, sometimes we don't.

 "Our guys have driven themselves and driven each other to some incredible results. They do set high standards. I think people should not get too carried away with their criticism in that regard."