IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes Slams Steve Harmison For 'Whitewash' Claims On England's Preparation vs India

England will tour India in January for a five-match Test series. Ben Stokes will be leading the England side and he alongside head coach Brendon McCullum has devised a strategy to prepare for the series against India.

The England team will be preparing in Abu Dhabi (UAE) for the tour to get the subcontinent grip ahead of the India tour. However, former England pacer, Steve Harmison is not happy about their plan and has criticized them heavily.

The England Cricket Team will be landing in India just three days before the start of the first Test in Hyderabad. Steve Harmison feels that this is very ignorant of the team management as they won’t get enough time to prepare in Indian conditions.

He lashed out at the team management and said that if they land three days ahead of the start of the series, then England deserves to be whitewashed by India in the test series.

However, Ben Stokes takes a jibe at the statement made by Steve Harmison as he reckons the England team is going to Abu Dhabi to practice and prepare for the India series. Ben Stokes-led England team will be in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Test series against India for preparations for the five-match tour and will be in intensive training.

Ben Stokes took to ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) to slam Steve Harmison on his remarks about England getting whitewashed by India if they arrive just three days before the start of the series. He said, “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.” 

Watch- Ben Stokes’ Tweet On Steve Harmison’s Remarks Over England’s Preparation Strategy

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. https://t.co/2Q0qCOEbFO

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) December 28, 2023

Steve Harmison could be heard saying, “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 to India overprepared as well, you can be in India for six weeks before and still not be prepared for that first Test.”

Ben Stokes has a huge task ahead of him as India has never lost a Test series in India since 2012 and England was the team to beat them the last time in 2012. India is just unbeatable in home conditions so preparing in UAE might not be enough. The conditions in UAE are nothing like India and the rank-turners in the Indian subcontinent will cause a lot of trouble for the England players.

England has announced a spin-heavy squad for the India tour with the likes of Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley getting their maiden England call-up. Jack Leach will be present as the experienced spinner. The Indian squad for the Test series is yet to be announced.