PTI

Rajkot, Nov 15: Struggling to digest their third biggest ODI defeat in terms of runs, England coach Peter Moores on Friday criticised his bowlers, saying they lacked aggression.

Moores defended captain Kevin Pietersen's decision to field first on a batting pitch, a move that clearly boomeranged with India amassing a massive 387 for five.

Though it was never going to be easy chasing down such an intimidating total, Moores felt England's four-pronged pace attack should have been more aggressive.

"Our bowlers didn't bowl consistently all the way through. They could have been more aggressive with the ball," Moores said.

"We have got some quick bowlers who are tall and generate enough bounce. But they were not aggressive enough," he added.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison bowled 38 overs among them, conceding 268 runs for only three wickets.

On the decision to field first, Moores said, "We thought the wicket would do little bit early on but actually you never know it for sure."

The England coach said India put up a sterling batting show and Yuvraj Singh, who slammed an unbeaten 138 off just 78 balls, played an extraordinary knock today.

"They played very well for a 380-plus score and Yuvraj's was a very, very special innings. The ground was small too and he was playing out of skin," Moores said.

On injured Ryan Sidebottom, the coach said the pacer bowled in the nets and was gradually getting into shape.

"He bowled in the practice sessions yesterday and today and is getting into the shape for (the next match in) Indore," he said.