Edwards should be back this summer

True also that it was an inexperienced team, a problem exacerbated by the injury to Claire Taylor, which prevented her playing any part in the tour.

The only place for real learning to happen, however, is in international competition. This can be a painful lesson, particularly when you are losing, but it is still necessary.

The other reason why it was vital for this tour to go ahead was so that the coach, John Harmer, had the best part of a month to see his charges in competition. Prior to this he had seen the squad only at monthly training weekends.

These weekends were all successful in that players worked hard and took on board the Harmer philosophy but he still needed to see them in competition to really judge where they stood.

Talent assessment

The players also needed the opportunity to spend more time with the new coach, to build relationships and learn more from him. Clare Connor as captain needed the opportunity a tour provides to really pull a team together.

I am sure that on this level the tour has been a success. Harmer will now have a clearer idea about all of the players, who is capable of making it at this level and who isn't.

So why didn't they win? The simple answer is that India at present are too good for them.

Connor has fostered an excellent team spirit

Neetu David, in particular, wove a spell over the batsmen. There is no shame in that as she is a fine left-arm spinner who bowls with variety and intelligence, but game plans will have to be drawn up prior to India's visit to England in the summer.

Apart from Arran Thompson and Caroline Atkins, who gained confidence from their world record Test Match opening stand, no other batsman scored runs consistently.

The bowling once again appeared to be less of a problem, although there were plenty of extras, but there were never enough runs to play with.

This problem is not unique to this team; it has been the problem for the England team for the last few years.

As someone who has been part of that team, it is a deeply frustrating experience to know that you have talented batters throughout the side but that the only consistency is inconsistency.

New competition

The problem is one of confidence or lack of it. Losing becomes a habit that is difficult to break when individuals' self confidence and that of the team unit is so brittle.

To help prepare players for this level of cricket where scoring runs is difficult, the top 48 players in the country will play in four teams in a round robin competition prior to the international matches this summer.

The world champions are heading for England

This will go some way to preparing players for tougher competition and hopefully success in this sphere will breed confidence against India and New Zealand.

The players themselves need to work hard mentally to maintain confidence in their undoubted ability. The competition for places that should ensue will be no bad thing either.

Charlotte Edwards will be fit for the home season and hopefully so will Claire Taylor. The other absentees should be available too and Sue Metcalfe and Melissa Reynard from Yorkshire should not be forgotten.

Finally then, should we be in despair about this performance? No.

Disappointed, yes, but we should look realistically at where this team is in its development.

They are a new and young team, with other players to come in. They have a good couple of years with plenty of cricket, to build on this tough experience and to mount a challenge in the next World Cup in South Africa.

Don't give up on them yet.