Ex-ENG player says England 'deserve to get beat 5-0' by India, gets fiery reply from Ben Stokes

England Test captain, Ben Stokes, has taken aim at former pacer, Steve Harmison, for raising doubts about the team's preparedness for the arduous Test series in India. England is expected to travel to India barely three days prior to the start of the five-match Test series in Hyderabad on January 25. This is presumably after they have finished their preparations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

3 things you need to know

• The India vs England series will begin from January 2025
• The series will include a total of 5 Tests
• England are the last team that won a Test series in India

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Steve Harmison criticises England

The spin-oriented conditions present a big obstacle to the aggressive playing styles of Brendon McCullum's side. In their two most recent red-ball tours of India, England have only won one Test match, yet they are the last team to win a Test series in India.

A team with the credentials of playing spin has been announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), featuring debutants Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley. Steve Harmison, who toured India thrice during his playing days, was not impressed with England's approach to the forthcoming series and foresaw a deserved rout for the side.

"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," Steve Harmison said in an interaction with TalkSport.

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Ben Stokes hits out at Harmison

Upon noting the comments made by Harmison, England captain Ben Stokes delivered a seemingly irked response.

"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," Stokes tweeted.