Cook wants to get the balance right

There was frustration piled on frustration for Alastair Cook's England as they were again outplayed by India and suffered a fourth successive one-day international defeat

England's chances of defending an inadequate 220 all out were always slim and, although fast bowler Steven Finn (three for 45) did his manful best, a century stand between Virat Kohli (86no) and Suresh Raina (80) hastened the inevitable. As Cook was invited to survey the wreckage of another crushing loss he insisted he is still "enjoying" the experience somehow.

"I've had better couple of weeks, I won't lie to you," he said.

"But you know when you take over a young side it's never always going to be that straightforward. It's certainly a challenge, and one that I am strangely enjoying."

England's latest defeat was the third to date to have been inflicted by a landslide margin. After his team had managed to bat only 46.1 of their overs, and then lost with almost 10 of India's unused, Cook added: "It's been quite frustrating.

"I can't fault effort, commitment, desire - in training and out there when we play. We're definitely talking about the right things; it's just 'executing' them out in the middle."

England have been as meticulous as ever in their preparation, yet have singularly failed to consolidate the superiority they held over India just last month in a 3-0 home victory.

"You can look at all the analysis and talk as much as you want," said the captain.

"But it's down to the individual to respond to that responsibility, and deliver.

"We're getting a lot of 30s and 40s, partnerships of 40 and 50. They're okay but they don't get you totals of 300. We're just not performing anywhere near to what we can do."