Team India recently hosted England in the five-match Test series. The battle of the longest format kicked off with England’s victory in the first Test. However, the hosts bounced back in grand style and registered triumphs in the remaining four fixtures to? capture the series with ??a stunning scoreline of 4-1.

India’s exceptional comeback

The home team first faced a defeat in the opening Test by 28 runs in Hyderabad. The two teams then locked horns in Visakhapatnam where India defeated Eng??land by 106 runs. The action moved to Rajkot for the third Test, where India secured one of their most significant Test victories with a margin of 434 runs.

India continued their winning momentum in the fourth Test in Ranch??i as they won it by 5 wickets. The fifth and final Test was hosted by Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala where the Rohit Sharma-led side put the final nail in the coffin and defeated the English side by an innings and 64 runs.

A historic achievement

As a result, India joined an exclusive club as only the fourth team in history to win a series of five or more matches by a 4-1 margin after losing the first match.?? The most recent instance of such a feat occurred 112 years ago when England claimed victory in the five-match Ashes series in Australia during the 1911-12 season. Prior to that, Austr??alia achieved the same feat twice at home in the Ashes series, in 1897-98 and 1901-02.

Also READ: India captain Rohit Sharma responds to retirement talk after Test series win over Engla?nd

Sanjay Manjrekar names the standout bowler of the IND vs ENG series

Ravichandran Ashwin, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and other notable players shone brightly throughout the series against England. Jaiswal showcased his batting prowess, emerging as the top run-scorer with 712 runs, while Ashwin displayed his bowling mastery, claiming the most wickets with 26 scalps. However, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar had?? a different perspe?ctive on the standout performer with the ball of the India versus England series.

In an ESPNCricinfo show, Manjrekar and former England pacer Steve Harmison were tasked with selecting the standout bowler of the series. They bypassed Jasprit Bumrah and Ashwin and opted for Kuldeep Yadav. Notably, Kuldeep, who featured in four Tests, claimed 19 wickets overall in the series. His exceptional perfo?rmance in the fifth Test, where he dismissed five batters in the first innings, earned him the Player of the Matc??h award.

Harmison praised Kuldeep Yadav, stating, “Kuldeep Yadav. He took a lot of big wickets” as the reason for selecting him as the top bowler. Manjrekar supported this sentiment, acknowledging, “He didn’t play or bowl as much as he should have, but I am with Steve.”

Also READ: IND vs ENG Test series 2024 – List of awards, Player of the Match, Player of the Series, Most runs, Most wickets and other stats

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The cricketing world is abuzz with anticipation as England gears up for a gruelling five-match Test series against India, scheduled to kick off on January 25. With a star-studded squad led by Ben Stokes and coached by Brendon McCullum, expectations are runni?ng high for the English team.

However, former England pacer Steve Harmison recently added fuel to the pre-tour discussions with his candid critique of the team’s preparation. The discussions were even further intensified when Stokes came forward to counter Harmison with a sharp response.

Steve Harmison’s candid critique

In a recent conversation with TalkSport, Harmison expressed his concerns about England’s limited preparation time, landing in India just three days before the commencement of the first Test in Hyderabad. The seasoned pacer emphasized the timeless importance of adequate preparation in the challenging subcontinental conditions.

“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,” said Harmison.

Harmison’s remarks ignited a spirited discussion within the cricketing community, with fans and experts alike weighing in on England’s approach to this critical series.

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Stokes sets the record straight with pointed response

Responding to Harmison’s criticism, Stokes took to Twitter to provide clarity on England’s preparation strategy. Stokes highlighted a two-phase approach, with the squad first heading to Abu Dhabi for an intensive training camp before spending additional days in India ahead of the first Test.

Although the England skipper’s message was injected with a touch of sarcasm, it clearly emphasized the team’s commitment to thorough preparation and countered Harmison’s assertion about insufficient mere three days of preparation criticism.

“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,” wrote Stokes.

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. //t.co/2Q0qCOEbFO

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) December 28, 2023

Discussions and anticipation surrounding Bazball approach

Notably, Egland’s last Test series was against Australia in the Ashes 2023, which concluded in a draw. The series saw questions raised about England’s attacking style in the longest format of the game. As the team faces a formidable Indian side on their home turf, cricket enthusiasts are eager to see if this style proves effe?ctive in the subcontinent.

Also READ: Pat Cummins, MS Dhoni,?? Ellyse Perry & others celebrate Christmas with th??eir loved ones

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Former England captain Kevin Pietersen’s scathing criticism of the England team’s approach against Australia in the ongoing second Ashes 2023 Test has sparked mixed reactions. While some agree with Pietersen’s assessment of England’s performance, others believe his comments were too harsh.

One former teammate of Pietersen, Steve Harmison, has come to the defense of the England team, suggesting that Pietersen should be more mindful of his words. Speaking on talkSPORT, Harmison expressed his disagreement with Pietersen’s criticism, stating that the team has had only a few bad days in the past year.

Harmison said, “I don’t think it was justified. I think this team has had one or two bad days in 12-13 months. I think some of the stuff that they were having a go at them (for), too matey, I think there’s a time and a place.”

Notably, Pietersen had labeled England’s performance on Day 1 as “shambolic” and expressed his hope that the coaching staff gave the players a strong reprimand in the dressing room. Despite Australia finishing with a first innings total of 416, thanks to a century from Steve Smith, Engl?and managed to s??tage a late comeback on the first day.

While Harmison acknowledged Pietersen’s right to have an opinion, he also noted that his forceful and often unwarranted comments were not always well-received. Harmison highlighted the strained relationships Pietersen had with some teammates, particularly former captain Andrew Strauss, suggesting that Pietersen’s presence in the dressing room was not always positive.

“I’m not going to knock Kevin for having his opinion â€?he’s always had it. He was always forceful with it, it wasn’t always warranted, it wasn’t always best received. I’m sure it wasn’t best received in the England dressing room (ahead of day two), it certainly wasn’t best received by the England dressing room when we were in it! But a few of us could say to Kevin, in no uncertain terms, to shut up,” added Harmison.

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