England under the leadership of Captain Ben Stokes and the management led by coach Brendon McCullum in set to travel for the Indian shores for the much awaited 5 match test series versus India starting 25th January 2024.After the dismal performance in the recently concluded ODI world cup in India , England would like to make things settle when they tour in the sub continental conditions.
They had already announced an healthy squad of players with more spinners to be part of the sub continental tour. In addition to their Bazball approach, it seems the English team this time around wants to be prepared more and would reach India early next year to get acclimatize to the conditions and climate.
However Former English Pacer Steve Harmison mocked the England team approach to train in Abu Dhabi in accordance to get ready for their conquest in India. This dig however didn’t go well with English captain Ben Stokes who mocked the former English pacer for the same.
“Good job we’re going to Abu Dhabi” – Ben Stokes takes a sarcastic dig at Steve Harmison’s scathing remarks on England’s Test preparation vs India
England skipper Ben Stokes recently took a jibe at former England speedster Steve Harmison’s remarks on the side’s preparations for the crucial five-match Test series against India, set to begin on January 25.
On hearing the reports that England were going to arrive in India just three days prior to the first Test, Harmison was baffled and claimed that the visitors deserved to be thumped for their lack of preparation.
Talking to TalkSport , the former English pacer said:
“If England go in 3 days before, they deserve to get beat 5-0. They really do. I’m an old man, that is what they are going to say, the times have changed, the game has changed, but I tell you, preparation has not changed. You can’t go into India underprepared.
“In fact, you cannot go India overprepared as well, you can be in India for six weeks before and still not be prepared for that first Test.”
He further added:
“I would love to know what Pietersen, Strauss, Cook, in that great side, the only side that has won there in 2012, what they would think when they hear that England will go to India like three days before the series. I think they would laugh at you.”
However, Ben Stoke’s took to X and hit back at Steve Harmison’s comments claiming that England were heading to Abu Dhabi for a camp specifically to work on India’s spin trial. He posted:
“Good job we’re going to Abu Dhabi for a training camp before we go to India for even more training before that 1st test then isn’t it.”
India series could be Ben Stokes and co.’s toughest examination
The ‘Bazball ideology’ under Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum has tasted a lot of success at home and even away to Pakistan. However, many have maintained that India will be their toughest exam and it certainly is the case as they are unlikely to get flat batting tracks.
The quality of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and others on tracks that will turn could be the ‘final frontier’ in terms of Bazball’s goal.
With England’s fearless approach and India’s unbeaten series loss record on the Indian soil , New Year 2024 promises a cracker of 5 match test series when these 2 teams go loggerhead at each other starting 25th January.