Cook defends England's approach against Indian spin attack post third ODI loss

England captain Alastair Cook defended his side's approach against the Indian spin attack after their six-wicket loss to the tourists in the third ODI.

The hosts collapsed from 82-0 to post a modest 227 at Trent Bridge as India took a 2-0 lead in the series. England lost six wickets to spin and hit only one boundary between the 18th and 44th overs.

Cook said that one does not go in there when one loses wickets and keeps whacking boundaries. He also said that he does not care what anyone says, adding that not many people come in on a turning wicket and whack it straight away, The BBC reported.

Cook, who top-scored for England with 44, said that one builds boundaries by building a partnership. He added that when they keep losing wickets, its keeps knocking one back.

Cook said that they have got to consolidate; one has to allow himself to get in and then they can accelerate a little bit, adding that that is the way one has to play.

Cook and Alex Hales shared a second successive half-century opening stand before the introduction of spin sparked a collapse of 6-57.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered match figures of 3 for 39, while slow left-armer Ravindra Jadeja and part-timers Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu claimed a wicket apiece for India.

Defeat came four days after England were bowled out for 166 in losing the second ODI in Cardiff by 133 runs.

Cook said that a lot of wickets have fallen to spin in this series for England, and added that they need to improve on that. He also said that they got off to another good start and to be bowled out for 220 is incredibly frustrating.

The skipper said that they know that as a side England didn't bat very well, and added that there were a couple of soft dismissals.

Ambati Rayudu hit an unbeaten 64 as India cruised home with seven overs to spare to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series.

Edgbaston stages the penultimate ODI on Tuesday, before the series concludes at Headingley on Friday, the report added.