The fifth and final T20I match between India and England at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday took an unusual turn as India’s pre-match schedule was forced to change due to traffic delays.While India had yet to reach the pitch, England’s players took full advantage of the extra-time opportunity by engaging in an easy slalom game, a popular football training method used by many sports teams to improve quick passing, movement and reflexes.Despite the unexpected delay, the home team appeared relaxed and the players enjoyed warm-ups while waiting for the visitors to arrive at the stadium. Live footage shows England cricketers passing the ball quickly in tight circles, a move that has become a common feature in football training and is also used by cricket teams to improve coordination before matches.The delay was caused due to traffic jams the Indian team bus encountered on its way to the Rose Bowl. As a result, the tossing event scheduled to take place before it started at 7:00 pm IST was postponed by 30 minutes. Officials later confirmed that the toss will take place at 7:15 pm (IST) and the match is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm (IST).WATCH: England players enjoy a game of Rondo football while awaiting India’s delayed arrival at Rose BowlOnce the Indian team reached the venue, preparations quickly accelerated. Skipper Shreyas Iyer was seen taking to the field with bat and gloves for a brief practice session, while all-rounder Suryansh Shedge was spotted running in, sparking speculation about his possible inclusion in the playing squad. There are also signs that India may be making some changes after a disappointing series.England entered the match with an unassailable 3-0 lead after being eliminated in the first game and were aiming to complete the series with a 4-0 win. India, meanwhile, will want to avoid whitewashing and end a tough journey on a positive note.
