Brendon McCullum responds to claims England didn't train enough during woeful tour of India ahead of four-day break in Abu Dhabi before next week's Champions Trophy opener

Brendon McCullum has defended England’s preparation methods after they left India licking their wounds from seven losses in eight matches, engulfed by a perception that they do not train enough.

Ironically, next on the agenda is a four-day break with families in tow in Abu Dhabi ahead of flying to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next week.

However, responding to an allegation from television commentator Ravi Shastri that his team had netted just once since arriving on January 18, England head coach McCullum said: ‘It’s not true. We’ve done lots of training. We have had injuries in the camp so we’ve backed guys off a little bit to make sure we had a fit team.

'We have three training sessions in Pakistan as well. Guys have come from a lot of cricket, and I think keeping guys fresh is just as important, especially when you have injuries. Factually that is totally incorrect.’

A tour itinerary like this, of eight matches in three weeks, requires players to fly every third or fourth day, reducing practice sessions for both teams, while netting was totally out of the question between the fourth and fifth Twenty20 internationals as there was just a day between them and it involved a three-and-a-half-hour road trip from Pune to Mumbai.

England practised on half a dozen occasions once the action began on January 22 while India had seven sessions and McCullum insisted the combination of travel, rest and play is part and parcel of the modern game.

Brendon McCullum has rejected the perception that his side did not train enough in India

England's tour itinerary saw them fly every third or fourth day, reducing practice sessions

England were beaten in seven of their eight white-ball matches including a 3-0 ODI whitewash

‘That can be difficult but that is the beauty of playing international cricket. It’s tough travelling round the world, but growing up that is what your ambitions were,’ he said.

‘When you are thrust into that position you can’t be upset about the travel. That is one of the factors you have to be able to handle when you cross the line. It’s been a demanding schedule as India will attest.

'They have rested and rotated quite a lot of players throughout the series. Both teams have an eye on a major tournament. Hopefully in Pakistan we will have a fully fit squad to pick from and we look forward to a fresh challenge.’

That challenge is set to incorporate a second change to their 15-man squad this week as, having already lost Jacob Bethell to a hamstring injury, England are anticipating Ben Duckett, their most productive batsman of the tour to India, being withdrawn following checks on his groin on Thursday.

Duckett, 30, was described by McCullum as looking ‘a bit ginger’ after hobbling to a 22-ball 34 in Wednesday’s 142-run thrashing at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Although England went outside of their centrally-contracted pool for Bethell’s replacement - drafting in Somerset’s Tom Banton - it would appear harder to do so for a second time, with Will Jacks favourite.

Two more experienced campaigners Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran are also on that list, but there is an alternative in Dan Mousley, who would offer the balance of being a left-hander like Bethell and Duckett and add his 70-mile-per-hour spin to the mix.

To add to the disruption ahead of the February 22 clash with Australia, Jamie Smith has been sidelined for a fortnight with a calf problem, Brydon Carse is nursing a badly bruised toe, Jofra Archer has a cut on his bowling hand and Jamie Overton was not risked for the third ODI after reporting a couple of niggles.

Jonny Bairstow could be drafted in as a replacement though Will Jacks is seemingly favourite

Fast bowler Jofra Archer was not played in the third ODI after suffering a cut to his hand

Despite that less than promising bill of health, though, and a woeful record of 16 losses from 23 since the start of the 2023 World Cup, McCullum says England can still win the eight-team tournament.

‘Of course, you know what I'm like. Always optimistic. I believe we've got a squad which, if we're able to put it all together, is as good or as competitive as anyone else, particularly in the conditions that we'll face in Pakistan,’ he said.

‘So that'll be the messaging as well. Make sure that we stay tight as a group, remain upbeat, look after the health of the army and the morale within the group. If we do that, then we allow ourselves best chance of performing.

‘If you go the other way, you've got no chance, right? I certainly have belief in us.’

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