Credit: X
England Test captain Ben Stokes responded to criticism from former English fast bowler Steve Harmison , who had called out the Three Lions' lack of preparation. The comments by Harmison were made regarding the upcoming five-game Test series in India and the Durham speedster questioned the team's preparation strategy for this tour.
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Three Lions will kick off this five-match series on January 25 with Tests taking place at at Hyderabad, Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala. But for England, performing in India has always seemed difficult which Steve Harmison alluded to in his rant. Responding to these comments, Ben Stokes took to X (formerly Twitter) and reminded Harmison that the team will be travelling to Abu Dhabi for a training camp before the India series.
Check out the tweet here:
You can't go into India underprepared: Steve Harmison
Further talking about Harmison's comments, the England fast bowler was in conversation with TalkSport where stressed the importance of detailed and intense preparation for a series in India. He 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."
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"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," Harmison added
I love this new approach, I love the Stokes-McCullum approach, Rob Key, and everything that they have done. But, I'm sorry, going in three days before, you would never do that for an Ashes series. You would never go to Australia three days before for The Gabba, so why go three days before for Hyderabad? It is not the new world, it is player power. That's all it is, it is people backing down to players," Harmison concluded.
