Dhoni: We have been outplayed

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP):

The humiliation of a 4-0 series whitewash looms for India, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni conceding they have deserved to be dethroned as the world's No. 1 Test side by England.

"The series never really went our way," he said. "Most of the sessions were won by them. More often than not we were outplayed. We have been completely outplayed in the series so far. By losing one series we shouldn't get too critical (but) we need to accept we were outplayed."

Commentators and broadcasters heaped derision on the tourists, with England great Geoffrey Boycott scathing about VVS Laxman's decision to keep his hands in his pockets while fielding - and much else.

"The question everybody keeps asking is how did India get to number one in the world playing like this?" Boycott asked, in the Daily Telegraph.

"They look a shadow of even an average team. The bowlers try hard but are military medium and the fielding at times is so unathletic it beggars belief. There are players walking around just waiting for the close of play and expecting England to win the game."

Frustration

The schedule is one factor behind India's malaise. In the last six months, most of its players have crammed in a World Cup, the Indian Premier League and a Test series in West Indies.

Dhoni's frustration with the workload spilled out in his post-match press conference, when he was asked if his side had prepared properly.

"We play 200 days of cricket and what else you want us to do?" he said. "As for planning, it's beyond players' control. It's the BCCI who decides. We try to do our best, and use our resources to the maximum."

Dhoni was unable to explain why India lost so heavily at Edgbaston.

"The margin just keeps getting bigger and bigger," he said. "I can't pinpoint the reason. If it was that easy, I would have rectified it. The pressure kept mounting on us. If you (can't) get the opposition out because you are a bowler short, the pressure keeps mounting and obviously England is a very good side."

One underlying problem remains, India's inability to adapt to the five-day game.

Their bowlers appear unable to take 20 wickets in the ongoing absence of injured paceman Zaheer Khan. Ishant Sharma has sporadically looked like a world-class bowler, but only for the kind of four-over spells he specialises in in the IPL. Asked why he was unable to bowl effectively for longer, Sharma replied: "I am human and I have a body."