The Indian cricket team will be playing a 5-match test series against England starting from 25 January and both the teams have reached Hyderabad as the first test match will be played over there.
The head coach of the England test team, Brendon McCullum addressed mediapersons and he cleared the air regarding the England skipper Ben Stokes as he has returned after a successful knee surgery which he had in November 2023.
As per Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes is completely fit and he will return stronger as he has worked hard. Brendon goes on to say that Ben Stokes is like a greyhound and everyone knows that the work ethics of England’s test cricket skipper are phenomenal.
Ben Stokes also trained with the team in the camp which was held in Abu Dhabi but he didn’t bowl in the camp and it is quite certain that he may not bowl in the test series as well. Brendon says that he has seen Ben Stokes running and he is pretty good to go, the head coach further adds that they will take the decision regarding it afterward when needed and as of now they will wait and watch.
The English cricketer Harry Brook has returned to England from Abu Dhabi due to personal reasons and the English team will certainly miss him in the series. Dan Lawrence has been named as the replacement but Harry Brook may join the team later on if he is ready for that as the tour will go on till March.
Talking about Harry Brook, Brendon McCullum states that their thoughts are with Harry Brook and his family. He adds that playing cricket for livelihood is a privilege but there are some things which are more important than that. Brendon McCullum also states that they will talk to Harry Brook about coming to India if he is ready but they are fine even if it doesn’t happen.
The uncapped England spinner Shoaib Bashir wasn’t able to come with the team due to Visa problems, Bashir is an English cricketer of the Pakistani origin and he is the only England cricketer who is facing issues regarding documents.
Brendon McCullum is hopeful that things will get sorted out and Bashir will be in India soon as he is not on his own, the England team management is providing support to the uncapped cricketer.
What do you think, which team will win this test series?
