Peter Moores: "You can't take one section of the game, play it well, and win. You have to play well in each section" © AFP Enlarge

Peter Moores, the England coach, has said the team's dismal performance in the warm-up match on Tuesday was a clear indicator that it was not yet mentally sharp or ready for the tour of India. A strong England XI, including Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Andrew Flintoff, was bowled out for 98 chasing Mumbai Cricket Association's 222. The first of seven ODIs starts in Rajkot on Friday.

"To get bowled out for 98 is not good enough," Moores said. "It was not what we wanted but it is a mental not an effort thing. We have had six to seven weeks without competitive cricket so we are ready to go. The important thing is that we are mentally on the right page on Friday.

"The hardening will come through playing competitive cricket. Hopefully the loss will show us that what we are about to embark on here is real. We have been staying in a lovely hotel and feeling very relaxed during practice and watching India play Australia. We have to get in the right place mentally."

Moores said the team had discussed how to make the best of the fielding restrictions in the ODIs. England will be playing under the new Powerplay rules, where the batting side decides when to introduce the second or third five-over field restriction. "The game is often shaped in the first hour. Powerplays are important but good sides, like India, make the most of the middle overs, too, where they accumulate runs without losing wickets so they can play big shots at the end. You can't take one section of the game, play it well, and win. You have to play well in each section."

Both England and India are fretting over injuries to their fast bowlers. England, who will be without fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom for the first game, are hoping Stuart Broad will recover in time from the knee injury which he picked up the warm-up match, while India were forced to leave out Ishant Sharma after he sprained his ankle.