The mutterings of the captain of a sinking ship are often rather comical - and Kevin Pietersen's are no different - but they also offer insight into some possible reasons behind England's recent decline...

"Last week wasn't special but it absolutely has no bearing on what will happen here in India." - 7 November, Pietersen reflects on the shambolic Stanford Super Series.

"Today and what happened the other day doesn't really count in the grand scheme of things. What counts is the internationals." - 11 November, Pietersen speaks after England's humiliating 124-run defeat against a Mumbai XI.

"Preparation the other day didn't go to plan - but, hey, who remembers the other day, it's all about tomorrow." - 13 November, Pietersen gets ready for the first ODI, which England went on to lose by 158 runs.

"We're 1-0 down but there's still six games left in the series and we're going to have to be mentally strong to try and come back and hit India hard on Monday." - 15 November, Pietersen after England's heavy 158-run loss in Rajkot.

"We improved from the last game, let's hope we can improve some more," - 17 November, Pietersen after losing the second ODI in Indore by 54 runs.

"We're certainly getting closer. I think if we'd had a full game yesterday, we'd have definitely taken it close." - 21 November, Pietersen after the third ODI in Kanpur (Suddenly losing by only 16 runs seems like a good result).

The impact of the Stanford Super Series on the English team is well documented, but the point that can't be underestimated is the cost of a loss of momentum. Heading to Antigua, the hype of the new Kevin Pietersen era was in full swing, with the English on a high after victory in the final Test against the Proteas and a 4-0 trouncing of the same opposition in the ODI series that followed.

Three horrid performances later and the squad left the West Indies in a shamble with more focus being put on their money-grabbing motives and Sir Allen Stanford's behaviour with the WAGs than on on-field matters.

For Pietersen to suggest that the experience had no bearing on their trip to India is misguided and naïve. England lost the momentum from the South African series and headed to India questioning themselves more then their opposition.

In professional cricket every game matters and preparation is key; England did not enjoy a good build-up to the one-day series in India and have suffered the consequence. Defeat in that warm-up game should not have been laughed off in the fashion it was.

In three ODIs into their seven-match series, England have been mediocre to terrible in every department, admittedly against a quite superb Indian set-up, but any attempt to label the losses as improving performances is a thin-veiled attempt to disguise the fact that England are rapidly losing touch with their opposition and are unsure of how to stop the rot.

Pietersen was praised by all and sundry after the ODI series win over the Proteas, but now faces the biggest challenge of his short tenure as captain. With the return of (the real) Steve Harmison and an injury free Andrew Flintoff and the emergence of Owais Shah (and potentially Ravi Bopara) as genuine international batsmen, the current England squad is by no means short of talent. But KP and his men need to step up - and soon - if they wish to avoid slumping to the same mediocrity that has for many years blighted the England team.

Julia Harris