England Test captain Ben Stokes criticized former pacer Steve Harmison, who had questioned the team's readiness before the demanding Test tour of India.

England will travel to India for a series of five Tests which will begin on January 25 in Hyderabad. The contingent is set to arrive in India just three days before the first Test starts.

Steve Harmison, who previously toured India for three Tests, was not satisfied with England's strategy for the upcoming series and predicted a deserving whitewash for the team based on their approach.

"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, and 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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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a squad leaning heavily on spin, including newcomers Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for their debut call-ups.

However, Ben Stokes, in a retort revealed that England will travel to UAE for a camp before traveling to India for the Test series.

Stokes posted on X: “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.”

England have secured only one Test victory in their last two red-ball tours of India, yet they hold the distinction of being the last team to win a Test series in the country.