Ahead of their five-Test series in India, Ben Stokes-led England cricket team has decided to bring their own chef to avoid the the risk of player illnesses. The Telegraph reported that their chef will join the team in Hyderabad prior to the first Test on January 25. Despite having a chef on their tour to Pakistan in December 2022, some team members still fell ill just before the first Test in Rawalpindi. As per the reports, while the visitors trust the hosts to provide clean facilities, they emphasise the importance of having nutritious, non-spicy meals. Omar Meziane, who is currently employed by Manchester United's football club, will accompany the England cricket team.
“England will take their own chef on tour to India later this month to try and avoid players falling ill during the seven-week trip. The chef will join the squad in Hyderabad before the first Test on January 25 in an attempt to keep on top of the players’ nutrition,” The Telegraph quoted.
“England insist it has nothing to do with not trusting hotels to provide clean facilities and is instead about ensuring players, especially those who refuse to eat spicy food, are eating nutritious meals rather than filling up on energy bars and pizzas,” the report added.
Coach Brendon McCullum has approved this decision, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) covering the chef's expenses. This move, while common in football and rugby, marks England as the first cricket team to adopt this practice for overseas tours.
Furthermore, there have been reports about the England cricket team's plan to arrive in India just three days ahead of the first Test.
“If England go in three days before, they deserve to get beat 5-0, they really do,” former fast bowler Steve Harmison said.
The five-match Test series will start from Hyderabad, with subsequent matches scheduled in Vishakhapatnam, Rajkot, and Ranchi, before they play the final Test in Dharamsala.
Meanwhile, former India opener Aakash Chopra took a swipe at England team with an 'IPL' dig.
"Good idea. I'm sure that majority of English players must be bringing in their chefs for the IPL too....year after year. AS IF," he wrote in a post on X.
England's recent tours in India have not been successful, with defeats of 4-0 and 3-1. Nevertheless, England hold the distinction of being the last team to beat India in a home series, under Alastair Cook's leadership, achieving a remarkable series victory in 2012. Their most recent Test series was against Australia at home, concluding in a 2-2 draw. However, Australia retained the Ashes urn, as Pat Cummins' squad was the defending holder.
The Schedule
1st Test in Hyderabad on January 25
2nd Test in Visakhapatnam on February 2
3rd Test in Rajkot on February 15
4th Test in Ranchi on February 23
5th Test in Dharamsala on March 7
England's squad: Ben Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root and Mark Wood.
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