WATCH: England Cricket Team Arrives in Hyderabad Ahead of First Test Against India in Five-Match Series

The Englishmen are finally here. After almost a month of training camp in ‘subcontinent-like conditions’ of Abu Dhabi, the England Cricket team arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday to take on the mighty Indians in the first of a five-match Test series, set to begin on Thursday.

England, led by Ben Stokes, have not had the best of starts to their World Test Championship cycle, clinching two wins and a draw in the Ashes against Australia. And now, facing India in the subcontinent will prove to be yet the toughest challenge yet to England’s Bazball’ approach.

The recent history between the two sides, on one hand, is completely lopsided. India have been utterly dominant over England in Test when playing at home, having secured an undefeated streak against the English side since 2013.

The last time these two teams met in the long format in India, India secured a 3-1 series win, back in 2021, after England snatched away the first game.

On top of it all, England have already had to face a setback, as batter Harry Brook had to depart from the squad and travel back home for personal reasons.

Brook has been a revelation in the current England Test side especially. The Yorkshire batter, under the guidance of Brendon McCullum and his ‘Bazball’ approach, has flourished with the bat, notching 1181 runs in just 12 Tests for England, at a staggering average of 61. So, his absence will be a big blow to England’s batting unit.

But, on the other hand, one cannot ignore the undeniable success that England have achieved since the infamous Bazball came into play. The visitors are yet to lose a Test series under the Stokes-McCullum leadership, and will desperately be looking to break the streak and clinch the series away from the hosts.

The five-match Test series between India and England will kick off with the first match being played in Hyderabad on Thursday, January 25.