‘England need to be ruthless’

BRIDGETOWN: England coach Peter Moores urged his side to show more professionalism in their approach after their six-wicket defeat to West Indies in the final Test at the Kensington Oval on Sunday.
The defeat meant that the three-match series ended level at 1-1 and Moores seemed unhappy at his side’s inability to drive home the advantage at key moments in the series.
“In every game we have had chances to really put the opposition under extreme pressure and we haven’t always taken those opportunities,” said Moores.
“There is a ruthlessness I think we need to develop as a team.”
Despite dominating a decent part of the series, England were unable to get the desired results which hasn’t impressed Moores.
Failure to consolidate advantageous positions in key moments in the series meant that England’s wait for an overseas series win since 2012 continues.
“We are frustrated because we think we dominated the first two games,” he added.
“It was a great opportunity to come here and win a test match.
“We have to learn some tough lessons ... if you have a bad session sometimes you can’t get yourself back in the game.”
With England next slated to face two tough opponents in New Zealand and Australia at home in the coming months, Moores hopes his side learns their lesson soon.
Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook has denied there is any need for a review of the team’s failure to win the Test series against West Indies but coach Peter Moores may feel uneasy on the flight back from the Caribbean.
Incoming board chairman Colin Graves promised in March there would be serious questions asked should England not beat a team he termed “mediocre”.
While Cook showed a promising return to form with the bat, striking a century in the third Test loss in Barbados, Moores may feel the heat after the series ended a disappointing 1-1.
In his second stint as coach, Moores has had his share of inquisitions and was already under scrutiny after England’s group-stage exit from the World Cup.
That scrutiny intensified with the departure of managing director Paul Downton, who appointed him last year.
Cook said Moores had brought “a lot of good stuff” but admitted decisions about his own future and that of the coach were out of their hands.
“I don’t think it’s inquiry time when you look at how we played over the 13 days, but I think we can all sit in that dressing room and know we’ve let an opportunity go,” Cook said in comments published by British media.
Pundits and former players were less sanguine.
“How much Moores?” asked British tabloid, The Sun, in a headline on its website.
“Sometimes you have to accept it’s not working,” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.
If hauled before Graves, Moores will have to defend his team on a number of fronts. Some issues he can claim were beyond his control.
England wilted under pressure, said Cook, perhaps an understandable reaction from a young and still-developing team.
Yet batsman Jonathan Trott’s reinstatement will be harder to justify after the veteran’s poor series.