NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the umpiring during England's defeat to India in their opening one-day international, saying England were "robbed". Gavaskar, quoted in the Hindustan Times newspaper, said of Saturday's game in Calcutta: "Marcus Trescothick was playing the innings of a lifetime and taking his team to a famous victory, when he was stopped in his tracks by a decision that turned the match in India's favour.

"Leg-before-wicket decisions are never the easiest to give nor are they unanimously accepted by the fielding side or the batting side, but the speed at which they were given made them look worse.

"England were robbed."

Trescothick, dominating the bowling as he hammered 121, was given out to a ball from paceman Javagal Srinath which pitched outside leg stump. England then collapsed to 259 all out and a 22-run defeat.

England have lodged a complaint over the umpiring with the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, who has forwarded it to the Indian board as the series is being officiated by home umpires.

Four England batsmen were out leg-before in the first game of the six-match series.

Gavaskar added: "Trescothick was batting superbly and pacing the innings so well that the Indians seemed to have no answer."

But he criticised the England lower order for squandering a victory chance as the last six wickets tumbled for just 35 runs.

"England also did not help their cause by some unthinking cricket. England's tail did not wag ... the inexperience of the youngsters showed as they crumbled in front of the vociferous Eden Gardens crowd."

Gavaskar had described England last month as the "most boring side to have played cricket in India" during their 1-0 defeat in a three-Test series.

While he praised England's Jeremy Snape and Paul Collingwood for their fielding on Monday, he concluded: "But, they (India) do have luck and maybe against this side, that's all that they need!"

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