KEVIN PIETERSEN will embark on a two-day campaign to lift England’s spirits to prevent them hurtling towards a whitewash against India in the final three matches of their one-day series.

Yesterday’s 19-run defeat at the Chinaswamy Stadium in the rain-affected fourth match of the series confirmed India’s series success with another emphatic victory over the tourists.

It has left England searching for answers about how to restrict their free-scoring batsmen and score runs against their highly-talented bowling attack to prevent their tour of India spiralling towards humiliation in both the one-day and Test series.

But captain Pietersen’s first role when they arrive in Cuttack today in preparation for Wednesday’s next match will be to boost morale and prevent spirits plunging and possibly affecting the two-Test series starting in Ahmedabad on December 11.

“We’re in India and we’ve still got a Test series to come and what better place to play cricket than a place where cricket is a religion?” said Pietersen.

“The boys have been treated well, they’ve been having a fantastic time and I want their chins up. I don’t want to see anybody with their heads down and moping around – we want to come back firing on all cylinders on Wednesday.”

Chasing an adjusted target of 198 after India scored 166-4 with Virender Sehwag hammering 69 off 57 balls in a match reduced to 22 overs a side by several rain interruptions, England were restricted to 178-8 in reply.

The tourists never really looked in contention although an 82-run stand off 48 balls between Owais Shah and Andrew Flintoff put them back in contention before both fell in successive overs.

It leaves England facing the prospect of a 7-0 series whitewash.

Meanwhile, England remain confident Ryan Sidebottom can recover from his latest injury setback and continue his international career after being ruled out of the remainder of the one-day series with India.

The 30-year-old left-arm seamer has suffered a tear to his right side, which will sideline him for the remaining four games in the seven-match series.