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England Players To Spend Off Time In Bengaluru, Chandigarh Ahead Of 5th Test

image-lt414pi3Devastated England players after Ranchi defeat (AP Photo)

After succumbing to a defeat in the fourth Test and losing the series in Ranchi, it has been reported that members of the England Test squad will disperse to Chandigarh and Bengaluru during the one-week break before the fifth and final Test against India, scheduled to commence on March 7 in Dharamshala.

England suffered their first Test series loss under the leadership of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum as India clinched an unassailable 3-1 lead with a five-wicket victory in Ranchi. 

With the Ranchi Test concluding in four days, England players will have ample time before heading to Dharamshala for the series finale in the northern part of India.

Due to the short turnaround between the third Test in Rajkot and the fourth Test, England players didn't have sufficient rest. However, the extended break between the second and third Tests offers the opportunity for the entire England squad to unwind, similar to their downtime in Abu Dhabi between the second and third Tests. 

It was in Abu Dhabi where the Ben Stokes-led side trained before arriving in India for the series that commenced on January 25. Nevertheless, the players have opted for Chandigarh and Bengaluru in the week leading up to the Dharamshala Test.

According to an ECB source, the squad will be divided between Chandigarh and Bengaluru before the fifth Test, with no plans to engage in cricket activities during the break. 

"The squad will be split across Chandigarh and Bengaluru before the fifth Test. They are unlikely to hit the nets during the break. The squad arrives in Dharamsala about three days before the Test (March 4)," an ECB source told PTI.

Given this, it's likely that the England players will spend a significant amount of time on golf courses. Both Bengaluru and Chandigarh offer numerous golf courses, and England's affinity for golf, especially among players like Ben Stokes, James Anderson, and Ollie Pope, is well known.

Hopefully, the break will rejuvenate the England players, enabling them to offer stiffer resistance against the dominant Indian side. England aims to avoid a 4-1 defeat by winning the dead rubber Test in Dharamshala.