Intensity call not heeded as England skip the nets

England decided to skip their scheduled New Year’s Day net practice – just two days after coach Andy Flower hinted he wanted “more intensity”.

Flower had taken issue with a suggestion his regime might be too intense – hinting instead that he perhaps needs to consider a more regimented style.

Yet, with England bracing themselves to try to salvage some pride by avoiding an Ashes whitewash in the final Test in Sydney starting tomorrow, the mixed messages kept coming. Cricket Australia was quick to flag up the “surprising decision” which it described as been taken “in the midst of an Ashes annihilation”.

It is a moot point whether England’s actions, or inaction in this case at the SCG, speak louder than Flower’s words. In the aftermath of a fourth successive Test defeat in Melbourne, he discussed at length on Monday how his coaching t enure has evolved. However, he made it clearhehopesto carryon, despite England’s hugely disappointing campaign here this winter.

Flower said: “If anything, recently, I think I have relaxed a little in certain ways.

“One of the areas we can improve and change, I think I couldbringmoreintensity and a closer control on certain things.”

England opted out of their scheduled 8.30am net session but did run extended fielding drills and catching practice on the outfield 90 minutes later – an act not lost on Cricket Australia which decided to make a story of it on its official website.

“In the midst of an Ashes annihilation, England decided a net session was unnecessary two days out from the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney,” its website read.

“Following their capitul ation i n Melbourne, the tourists’ surprising decision on Wednesday means they’ll have just one session on game eve to attempt to paper over the cracks and stop Australia completing only the third 5- 0 whitewash in Ashes history.”