Former England batter Mark Butcher has expressed serious concerns about England’s lack of preparation ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against India, set to commence in Hyderabad on January 25. With only an 11-day training camp in Abu Dhabi as their preparation, the England team is skipping practice matches in India before the first Test, potentially setting the stage for a challenging series.
Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Mark Butcher highlighted the potential consequences of inadequate preparation, particularly in a demanding red-ball series in India. He emphasized that while winning a Test series in India is always a tough task, going without the necessary preparation and then facing defeat would be considered inexcusable.
“Everybody believes going to India that you’re unlikely to win a five-Test match series in India, right? But what people will be less likely to be gentle about is if you go there without having done the requisite getting ready for it and then get battered. That’s kind of inexcusable,” Butcher stated.
He expressed concern about the lack of long-form cricket for the England players, noting that most of the squad hasn’t played any since July. With the gap in the Test calendar, Butcher suggested that spending three weeks in India leading up to the series could have been a valuable opportunity.
The former cricketer, who admitted this approach aligns with England’s recent trend of foregoing practice matches before series, acknowledged that while the team’s motto is about challenging traditions, the players might be concerned about the absence of competitive red-ball cricket preparation.
Butcher cited recent Ashes series where England opted for limited practice games, and the results were not favorable. He questioned whether the current England side, with less experience and fewer spin-bowling options, could replicate the comeback seen against Australia, especially against an India team that rarely loses Test series at home.
As India comes off an impressive series-leveling win against South Africa, Butcher’s concerns add an additional layer of intrigue to the upcoming Test series. England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, has yet to lose a Test series, but the lack of proper preparation could pose a significant challenge against a formidable Indian team on their home turf.