Members of the England cricket team and support staff landed in Chennai on Wednesday ahead of the four-match Test series against India. The first two Tests of the four-match series will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium while Ahmedabad will host the remaining two games. News agency ANI posted some pictures from the Chennai airport. In the photos, England players and staff members can be seen wearing masks and undergoing COVID-19 tests. 

Tamil Nadu: England Cricket team and staff arrive at Chennai Airport. The first Test of the four-match series between India and England will begin on 5th February at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/NpWLJPIcnn

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2021

Most of the Test mainstays for England, including the likes of Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, boarded a flight straight from Sri Lanka after sweeping the two-match Test series. 

Both teams are coming into the series, fresh of overseas wins. India, despite losing most of their Test mainstays due to injuries, managed to script a memorable series win Down Under. 

On the other hand, England, thanks to some sublime batting from their skipper Joe Root, made light work of Sri Lanka. 

Root smashed 426 runs in four innings, including a double-century in the first Test in Galle. 

England opted to continue with their rotation policy and as a result the visitors rested Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran for the first two Tests against India. 

The England selection panel was heavily criticised by former cricketers for their move to rest star players for a big series in India. 

However, England’s head coach Chris Silverwood defended the decision and said that they have to look after their players. 

“I’m perfectly happy with the system we’re using at the moment. I stand by it. We’ve got to look after our people,” he said. “We’re spending a lot of time locked in hotel rooms inside bio-secure bubbles and it’s not easy,” Silverwood had said. 

Promoted

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

(With AFP inputs)