England players to spend one-week break in Bengaluru and Chandigarh ahead of Dharamsala Test

Following their Test series defeat to India in Ranchi, England players led by captain Ben Stokes will split up and take a one-week break across Bengaluru and Chandigarh ahead of the fifth Test that starts in Dharamsala on 7 March.

Dhruv Jurel and the spinners shone as India defeated England by five wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead, and the break will allow the visitors to regroup and refresh before the fifth Test. Ahead of the Test series, England had their training camp base in Abu Dhabi. And even during the long break between the second and third Tests, England had decided to have their training camp in Abu Dhabi.

Also read: Dhruv Jurel shines brightest in Ranchi as India unearth another star for the future

However, the players have chosen Chandigarh and Bengaluru for the week leading up to the Dharamsala Test. “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 was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Also read: Ben Stokes puts on brave face after England lose Test series to India

The loss against India is the visitors’ first series defeat in the ‘Bazball’ era.

With inputs from PTI