Ben Stokes responds after Steve Harmison criticises England's preparations for India Tests

England are due to arrive in India just three days before the first Test in the five-match series, with Harmison stating "they deserve to get beat 5-0"

Former England bowler Steve Harmison has criticised England's preparations for their upcoming Test series against India, stating "they deserve to get beat 5-0".

Ben Stokes' side are aiming to become the first England team to win a Test series in India since 2012.

However, they are only due to arrive in the country three days before the first Test in Hyderabad (January 25-29), something Harmison believes would not be considered adequate preparation for an Ashes series.

There are currently no warm-up matches scheduled in India whereas in 2012, when England won 2-1, Alastair Cook and co. played tour matches against India A, Mumbai A and Haryana.

^{England played three warm-up matches in 2012 and went on to win the Test series 2-1 [Pal Pillai/Getty Images]}

Speaking on talkSport's Following On podcast, Harmison said: "If England go in three days before, they deserve to get beat 5-0. They really do.

"I'm an old man and that's what they're going to say, the times have changed. But preparation hasn't changed.

"You cannot go into India underprepared, [in fact] you cannot go into India overprepared. You could be in India six weeks before and still not be prepared for that first Test and the emotion of that.

"I love the new approach with Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rob Key, and everything the ECB has done. But I'm sorry, you'd never go to an Ashes series three days before. You'd never go to Australia three days before the Gabba. Why go three days before Hyderabad?

"We've got five Test matches in India, you've got to prepare in the right way with overs under your belt, balls faced, and acclimatising."

Stokes responded to Harmison's comments on social media, writing: "Good job we're going to Abu Dhabi for a training camp before we go to India for even more training before the first Test then isn't it."

Earlier in December, England confirmed their 16-strong travelling party for the series, with uncapped spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir the surprise inclusions.

After Hyderabad, the series will head to Vizag, Rajkot and Ranchi before concluding in Dharamsala in early March.

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