England captain Kevin Pietersen says defeat to Mumbai XI 'doesn’t count'

Pietersen who will lead England in a seven-match, one-day series starting in Rajkot on Friday, has insisted nothing should be read into their display.

“I think the guys are all right, he said. “We just need to turn our heads on now and make sure we start on Friday.

“Today and what happened the other day doesn’t really count in the grand scheme of things. What counts is the internationals

“This really doesn’t matter, but it has taught us a few quick lessons.”

England were dismissed for a mere 98 by Mumbai XI in reply to 222 for seven.

It followed a similarly inept batting display in the Stanford showdown in Antigua, when they were all out for 99, and prompted an unscheduled net session with the squad after the match had finished.

The nature of today’s defeat perhaps highlights the scale of the task ahead of England as they attempt to win their first one-day series in India since 1983-4.

Pietersen remains confident his side will rise to the occasion against sterner opposition, adding: “The opposition wasn’t spectacular the other day and it was better today so we’ve just got to turn our games on and get our heads right.

“The boys had a long journey to India and we’ve settled in nicely now so it’s just a case of getting our heads on.

“I’m not sure if we were fully focused but this is a really good lesson, I don’t see this is a bad thing at all.

“It’s just a case of learning from today and at the end of the tour no one really remembers what happened today or the other day, what counts is what happens on Friday.”