Stuart Broad has backed England's decision to go to a training camp in Abu Dhabi prior to their upcoming series with India.
Former Three Lions star Steve Harmison recently criticised England for planning to arrive to India late.
"If England go in three days before, they deserve to get beat 5-0, they really do," Harmison said.
"I'm an old man, that's what they'll say.
Stuart Broad has weighed in on the cricket row between England's Ben Stokes and former bowler Steve Harmsion
GETTY
"Times have changed, but preparation hasn't changed. I love this new approach, I love Ben Stokes and [head coach] Brendon McCullum.
"But I'm sorry, going three days before... You'd never do that for an Ashes series."
"You'd never go to Australia three days before the Gabba, so why go three days before Hyderabad? For me it stinks, it absolutely stinks."
Ben Stokes then hit back at Harmison, saying 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 first Test then, isn't it?"
And Broad has now weighed in, backing Stokes and expressing a belief training in Abu Dhabi can help England come out on top.
He told the Daily Mail: "The decision to fly to India only three days before the first Test next month is not England minimising preparation — Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, as coach and captain, are controlling it."
The former bowler, who is continuing to adjust to retirement life, added: "In cricket, when you tour a country, arriving weeks early, the warm-up pitches, quality of the nets, the matches you play, and your travel schedule are seldom arranged to help you.
"So McCullum and Stokes are taking ownership of this period leading up to the series opener in Hyderabad on January 25 rather than leaving it in someone else’s hands.
"At a 10-day Abu Dhabi training camp, McCullum can choose the net surfaces, control the middle practice, ramp up a day’s training and minimise flying.
"I’ve been to countries where you are due to train in the afternoon only to get there and discover the nets have been watered and covered.
"That’s no good. In Abu Dhabi, England will feel like the home team.
"Ultimately, we will only know if it’s right or wrong on the result.
"If England get bowled out for 80 and concede 500, Abu Dhabi will have been a failure, but if Ollie Pope gets 270 and Jack Leach takes a 10-for, it will have been a success.
"This is neither a lack of match-readiness nor disrespectful to India.
"This is an iconic tour and means a huge amount to the England players.
"It is not a case of the less preparation the better, it is simply an attempt to create the best pre-series environment possible.
"And don’t be surprised during the gaps between Tests if England players fly in and out of India in the search for relaxation.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Luke Littler sends classy message to Raymond van Barneveld after pulsating World Darts Championship win
- Manchester United players 'not happy' as Erik ten Hag fights to save job after Nottingham Forest defeat
- Premier League footballer 'being investigated by police for racially abusing concierge' as details emerge
Stuart Broad has backed Ben Stokes amid England star's row with Steve Harmsion
GETTY
"McCullum wants England to be the best mentally prepared team in the world, and that means getting away from the cricket at times.
"One of Ricky Ponting’s great beliefs when he was out of form for Australia was to step away from the game, not immerse himself deeper in it.
"He would have three consecutive days in which he didn’t hit balls, hoping his muscle memory would kick back in later on.
"McCullum and Stokes share a similar outlook. Yes, England’s captain is a beast of a trainer. Seeing the photos of how his legs have developed during his rehab from knee surgery tells you that, but in terms of nets, he only hits when he is ready and that might mean two hours one day and only five minutes the next.
"Out of all the players I played alongside, only former captain Joe Root could match Stokes for mental preparation, and he doesn’t let anyone else judge how he’s feeling.
Stuart Broad retired from cricket after a stellar career with England earlier this year
GETTY
"If five minutes feels enough, five minutes he does.
"Having played under McCullum for 18 months and knowing Stokes’ follow-my-lead vibe, you can also bet the players will be playing golf in an afternoon too... crucially, though, only after working their backsides off at training from 9am to 1pm.
"That’s your mental getaway — I lived and breathed it and felt the benefits.
"So did an England team that has won 13 and drawn once in 18 Tests.
"When people talk about sport they often question whether a team is working hard enough, but to me that is a given. Players that don’t work hard stick out like a sore thumb because they don’t stay at the top for very long."
