THE win-at-all-costs mentality is not a pretty one but it is one that England's cricketers could do with taking on board.

Yet again we find ourselves struggling to set a formidable score in the first innings of a Test match and two incidents on the first day in Bangalore summed up the difference between the Indian approach and that of the tourists.

Yorkshire's Manchester-born batsman Michael Vaughan had every reason to feel frustrated with his dismissal, but Lancashire's Andy Flintoff ought to be hung, drawn and quartered for the way he surrendered his wicket.

Vaughan fell victim to the Indian side playing to the rules, but showing no degree of sportsmanship.

A failed sweep ended with the ball nestling between Vaughan's legs on the crease. The ball was not rolling towards his wicket, so he decided to be a helpful chap and flicked it to the fielder with his hand.

The reaction of the home fielders was not to say thanks but to instantly appeal and Vaughan took the walk back to the pavilion having been given out for handling the ball.

The disgust was etched on Vaughan's face as he sat in the stand, but his anger essentially could only have been at the fact his opponents failed to be sporting and that they chose to play to the letter of the law.

They say good manners cost nothing, but on this occasion they cost a crucial wicket which England could ill afford.

As for Flintoff it was a case of throwing away a wicket and really he should know better by now.

He faced just four balls before trying to force a shot and sent a simple catch to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-wicket to send him back to the hutch without scoring.

When a wicket goes down it is imperative that another should not follow quickly, particularly in Test cricket, and his tendency to opt for misplaced opportunism needs addressing immediately by the coaching staff and the player.