Flintoff was fuming that India’s batsmen were slogging balls from their nets in the direction of the England practice area as the teams prepared for today’s ODI in Rajkot.

When one landed close to batting coach Andy Flower, Flintoff marched across the square to remonstrate with India’s assistant coach Venkatesh Prasad. Shortly after head coach Peter Moores hurried over to speak to opposite number Gary Kirsten clearly aware it will not take much to bring tensions between these two sides to the boil again after last year’s acrimonious series in England.

Moores said: “We had a chat coach to coach, Gary is a sound guy. I said we don’t want anyone on either side getting hurt. The nets are quite low so the ball can go anywhere and it’s difficult with both teams practising at the same time – players will play their shots instinctively against spinners.”

Peter Moores came over and said take it easy with the balls. It’s not an issue

Gary Kirsten

Kirsten said: “Peter Moores came over and said take it easy with the balls. It’s not an issue.”

However, it clearly was an issue to England’s players who stopped practice to look accusingly across the outfield at the Madhavrao Scindia Ground.

The low-flying missiles were not all in one direction either, England skipper Kevin Pietersen planting one ball in the Indian nets with his patented switch-shot.

“I heard there was something going on but I was concentrating on my batting,” said Pietersen.

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