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Cricket
England sour with practice facilities
KOLKATA, JAN. 13. The English cricket team, into the third day of practice here before the first one-day international match against India on January 19, complained about the ``sub-standard'' facilities provided by the local organiser.
England coach Duncan Fletcher said he was disappointed and frustrated by the practice facilities at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Ground. The coach, speaking to the reporters after an arduous practice session at the CCFC ground, said as the facilities were not up to the international standards it was seriously effecting the team's preparations.
The host - Cricket Association of Bengal - cited security reasons in turning down the initial request from the visitors to allow them to practice at the Eden Gardens.
Fletcher said the team had to curtail its practice time to accommodate an extra match at Cuttack and hence it was more important that the team be given a proper venue of international standard. The one-day matches are very competitive and inadequate practice facilities seriously hamper the team's prospects, he said.
Fletcher wondered what prevented the local organiser from allowing the visitor practice at Eden Gardens. The coach said that even the city police felt that Eden Gardens was a better venue from the security angle. This came up when the England team management met the top police officials to discuss the matter.
The coach said that the practice track at the CCFC behaved awkwardly disallowing proper practice to the batsmen while the bowlers could not go full steam fearing injury. The coach added that the team could not start practice on time owing to a match between two local teams which finished late. The coach, however, said that his boys will have no problem playing the Bengal XI in a friendly match on Thursday but hoped that CAB will heed his team's appeal.
- Our Sports Reporter
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