London: Captain Saurav Ganguly said the 64-run defeat in the triangular One-day series league match against England was not due to complacency but because his team could not capitalise on the conditions.

"England bowled and batted well. We just didn't make use of the conditions. They were the better opponents of the day," Ganguly said. The Indian captain said the team was determined to maintain the winning sequence in the series but were outplayed in all departments of the game by the hosts.

"We wanted to win this game but were outplayed. There was no complacency. You do feel bad when you lose, but we have done well in the last four games," he said.

Ganguly did not bowl paceman Ashish Nehra through with his seven overs but denied he experimented with his bowlers in the game. "I wasn't experimenting with my bowlers. I didn't bowl Nehra through because after 10 overs I thought probably the spinners would put the brakes on. They did for a few overs but then I thought England played well thereafter.

Ganguly said Rahul Dravid didn't play the game as a precautionary measure as he had a bit of stiff thigh. As for Anil Kumble, the situation on him was still not clear.

"He picked up a calf muscle injury while batting. We are still not clear on his situation. The physio would have a look at it."

Ganguly said bowlers such as Ronnie Irani do well in English conditions. "I think these type of bowlers always do well in England. If you see county cricket, you would see a lot of such bowlers doing well with the 'keeper standing up. It is never easy because the ball seams around."

An elated England captain Nasser Hussain said winning the game, though inconsequential with both teams having made it to the final, was important for his team as it could have a demoralising effect on the visitors.

Hussain is now praying for a bit of help from the weather for his team to do well against India in the final at Lord's on Saturday. "Obviously if the wicket affords sideways movement, we would like it. If there is a bit of rain around this week, it would suit us."

"The wicket at Lord's is dependent on weather and there is a bit of it this week," said Hussain, attributing the success of man-of-the-match Ronnie Irani to help from the Oval pitch.

"There is a little bit in the wicket - and that's why we brought him on early - he generally bowls the right length and pace." Irani returned his career best figures of 5 for 26 from seven overs and was also top scorer with 53.

Hussain, while outlining the wicket he wants for the finals didn't overlook the fact that Indians seamers - Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan - have also been in good form in this series.

"The Indian seamers too have bowled well all through the series and it must be said there is not much between the two teams," he said.

"Every game is important and that's why I didn't like when we lost against Sri Lanka. The Indians played hard and they must have felt it was important. To top it, we also had a couple of bonus points," Hussain said.

Hussain also praised Alec Stewart, now 39, at the way he kept wickets to Irani in this game and even had a stumping done against Yuvraj Singh off a wide ball.

"It is not easy standing up with your helmets on. And Ronnie is not the slowest. The wicket had a bit of bounce in it and he kept exceptionally well. It is nice to see him do so well at his age."

Extras:
The key to my bowling is accuracy, says elated Irani