Stokes gets in Harm's Way!

MARTOR PALS ROW OVER INDIA TOUR PREP

BEN STOKES bit back at his old pal Steve Harmison after his verdict on England's preparations for their five-Test series in India next month was: "It stinks."

The tourists will arrive in India only three days before the opening Test in Hyderabad, something Harmison reckons is madness.

But he clearly touched a nerve because his former Durham teammate and current England Test skipper Stokes took to social media to defend the itinerary, claiming 10 days of training in Abu Dhabi was all the preparation he and his team needed.

"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," said Stokes.

Harmison though was well aware of plans to start the UAE and return there on two separate occasions mid-series.