The real problem for Pietersen & Co is not the fear of a similar shortened fixture in Guwahati, which, as he pointed out, is in the north-east where darkness falls even quicker, but what the team will do in the two matches before making the journey to Assam.

In most other countries, 3-0 would’ve been a series whitewash. Not too many teams play seven bilateral one-day matches with each other these days, and though England still have a theoretical chance to bounce back, the length of the series is perhaps the worst thing that could’ve happened to a team who have strangely never settled as a one-day unit.

There was a four-nation title in Sharjah under Adam Hollioake 11 years ago, and they made the final of the ICC Champions Trophy at home in 2004, but England’s failure to come to terms with the 100-over game is becoming a baffling reality of cricket’s modern era.

For a country that is the pioneer of all formats of the limited-overs game — three of the four county cricket championships are one-day competitions, the 50-over Friends Provident Trophy, Pro40, and Twenty20 — England’s all-time success rate is now dangerously close to falling below the 50-percent mark.

In their 501 one-dayers since 1971, England have won 240 and lost 238. Over the last 20 years, the win-loss numbers are down to 153-172, over the last five they’re 49-57, and in 2008 England have lost 9 of the 15 matches played so far. They’ve never won the World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy, or any major multi-team event involving more than four countries.

... contd.