ECB protests to Indian board about practice facilities The visiting England team have complained about the practice facilities currently provided at Kolkata as unacceptable, but the Indian officials claim that India were meted the same treatment on tours of England. Coach Duncan Fletcher is unhappy about the standard of the wickets, lights, and the time allotted for practice at the nearby ground. "It is dangerous in the nets, because if you hit a leg-side shot in the first net, it shoots through to the other net and could take someone out. How can you concentrate when that's going on?" Fletcher said. ECB Chief Executive Tim Lamb has been engaged in lengthy dialogues with BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya. He has requested a switch to Eden Gardens, but the Cricket Association of Bengal, who maintain the Eden Gardens, insisted that England would only be allowed a single practice session there. "It isn't possible for England to practice there because we are busy preparing Eden Gardens for the one-day international," claimed a spokesman.

Caddick relishes renewed international challenge Andrew Caddick is back in the English side and looking forward to responding to the challenges thrown up by Yorkshireman Matthew Hoggard. After Hoggard's success in leading the England attack in their absence, Darren Gough and Caddick have to earn their places for the one-day series, rather than being the established opening pair. Caddick welcomes the challenge, which he believes will benefit England in their build-up to the World Cup in South Africa next year. "Hoggy's done very well," Caddick conceded. "He came into the frame against the West Indies a year or so ago, had a taste of it, saw what was required, and went away and worked at it. From all reports, he has done very well and he is now providing good competition, which is healthy because players need to know there are others ready and good enough to take their spot." About his withdrawal from the Test tour of India, Caddick said, "It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made and probably the most difficult I am ever likely to make. I made the decision on the grounds of what was happening in the world at that time. It was not one of those things I took lightly. As far as I was concerned, my winter was gone." Caddick also waxed eloquent about his renewed attitude and zest for the game. "I think the break refreshed me. I feel fit, and it does make you feel better in yourself," he said. "I am sure Darren will feel exactly the same and come running in hard because we have both got a fresh pair of legs coming into this series."

Long hours of reverse sweeps Word has it that, to come to grips effectively with Indian spin in the upcoming one-day series, the English batsmen have been concentrating on fine-tuning their reverse sweeps at their nets in Kolkata. Skipper Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight were two batsmen who practised the shot extensively, with Knight even putting in long hours of shadow practice under the watchful eye of coach Duncan Fletcher. The visitors also practised with a ball battered out of shape, ostensibly to prepare for any uneven bounce in the opening one-day international in the Eden Gardens. Media manager Andrew Walpole told reporters that the players were fit and raring to go. Coming on top of the England outfit's complaints about the practice facilities offered at Kolktata, Walpole's comments on the hospitality services must come as sweet music to the organisers’ ears. "The hospitality is excellent. We are really enjoying the food, particularly the Indian cuisine," he said.

Former India cap Woorkheri Raman shares his memories on three of the most pleasant English visitors to India. Click Here Does Ajay Ratra deserve his selection? You make the decision with our Third Umpire feature. Click Here Get inside a fiery fast bowler's thoughts. Read Darren Gough's diary, exclusively on CricInfo.com. Click Here